The following paragraph includes the important factors to be considered in making this appreciation. Mobility, observation and concealment are more favorable to the terrorist, and the use of arms and services other than infantry is directly dictated by the type of terrain. The rainy season may restrict road movement considerably, and extreme temperatures will dictate the size of an area that can effectively be controlled by troops on foot. Roads and railway lines are necessary for logistical support. Roads and tracks help in deploying troops and committing reserves quickly.
Airfields determine supply bases and headquarter sites.
Availability of water, local purchase facilities, hospitals and clinics, accommodation and recreational facilities all have a bearing on allocating areas and siting of headquarters. It is advisable to let military areas coincide with the ethnological grouping of the population. The density of the population may restrict the employment of artillery and the air force in certain of their roles. The degree of terrorist influence over the local population dictates the attitude, security and psychological action of the military forces. If his own area division is know, it may be better to try and fit that of the military accordingly.