Which step is NOT part of the four steps to IPB?

The process of Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (IPB) involves systematic steps to enhance understanding of the operational environment and inform planning and decision-making. The correct choice indicates an option that is not formally recognized as one of the four established steps of IPB.

The four steps typically include defining the operational environment, evaluating the threat, determining the threat/adversary courses of action (COAs), and analyzing the effects of these elements on operations. Identifying troop movements, while important in the context of gathering intelligence and situational awareness, is not a designated step in the formal IPB process. Instead, it is a part of the broader operational intelligence efforts that occur concurrently with but are separate from the structured steps of IPB.

This distinction clarifies that identifying troop movements is an activity that may arise while conducting the steps of IPB, but it does not constitute one of the core steps in the IPB framework, making this choice the correct answer. Understanding these steps helps military planners efficiently gather and analyze necessary intelligence for effective operational planning.