A common operational picture (COP) is a single identical display of relevant (operational) information (e.g. position of own troops and enemy troops, position and status of important infrastructure such as bridges, roads, etc.) shared by more than one

Command Command may refer to: Computing * Command (computing), a statement in a computer language * COMMAND.COM, the default operating system shell and command-line interpreter for DOS * Command key, a modifier key on Apple Macintosh computer keyboards * ...

. A COP facilitates collaborative planning and combined execution and assists all echelons to achieve ''

situational awareness Situational awareness or situation awareness (SA) is the perception of environmental elements and events with respect to time or space, the comprehension of their meaning, and the projection of their future status. An alternative definition is tha ...

''.JP 1-02, DOD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms, 12 April 2001, as amended through 17 October 2008. A commander's

headquarters Headquarters (commonly referred to as HQ) denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the to ...

is typically responsible for ensuring that the appropriate information is presented to the commander, so that he can make the best command decisions. Traditionally,

prepares maps with various

symbols A symbol is a mark, sign, or word that indicates, signifies, or is understood as representing an idea, object, or relationship. Symbols allow people to go beyond what is known or seen by creating linkages between otherwise very different conc ...

to show the locations of friendly and enemy troops and other relevant information. In the modern military, the COP is prepared electronically by a

command and control Command and control (abbr. C2) is a "set of organizational and technical attributes and processes ... hatemploys human, physical, and information resources to solve problems and accomplish missions" to achieve the goals of an organization or en ...

battle command system (e.g.

Army Battle Command System {{Short description, American digital military system The Army Battle Command System (ABCS) is a digital Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence ( C4I) system for the US Army. It includes a mix of fixed/semi-fixed and mobile net ...

). Beyond planning, a COP enables effective, dynamic execution. The term "Common" means it applies to all involved, from highest commander to the lowest soldier to the attached airman. "Operational" refers to actual, preferably in real-time, status and developments (which rarely fit the plan generated days/hours/moments ago) and it also refers to being at the operational planning level which is a summation and summary of many tactical scales and not of the broader, strategic level. "Picture" refers to a single, combined, graphics, visual representation of the environment, forces, and actions. Taken together, a COP enables both the lowest soldier and highest commander to independently and immediately sense and act in a collaborative fashion to achieve the predefined mission and commanders intent. An example of such a tool is ATAK or indows_Tactical_Awareness_Kit[WINTAK.

_See_also

*_Battlespace.html" ;"title="INTAK.html" ;"title="indows Tactical Awareness Kit[WINTAK">indows Tactical Awareness Kit[WINTAK.

_See_also

See also

See also

References

Further reading