Using a World-Wide Ecoregional Classification to Identify Similar Environments for Military Operations

A new map of Military Operating Environments (MOE) was developed from a world-wide ecoregional classification system that is based on climatic conditions and the prevailing vegetation determined by those conditions. This map allows for identification of operational environments across the globe that are analogous to those U.S. Army installations where training and testing of soldiers and equipment take place. The ability to conduct pre-deployment activities in similar environments is critical to mission success. Forty major U.S. Army installations were described by their MOE classification. It was determined that there are numerous installations that reside in hot continental and subtropical climates, as well as tropical/subtropical and temperate deserts. There is significant lack of adequate training and testing land resources in the Mediterranean, savanna, and rainforest environments.