I once had a young Armor officer engage in a serious debate with me.

"Mike, what do you think is the best reconnaissance platform in the US Army?"

"I don't know. What do you think?"

"The M1A2Sep."

"Why?"

"It can see out nearly 3 miles."

"Dude, walk with me." I took him to the roof of my patrol base. How far can you see out here?" Our area was surrounded by thick palm groves.

"Maybe 100 meters."

"In my area, these scouts under my command are the best reconnaissance platforms. Tanks can't see far enough, and Apaches can't see through the palm groves."

In the military, we call this METT-TC (Mission, Enemy, Time, Troops, Terrain, and Civilians). Academics will use bigger words like geography, economics, culture, human terrain, history, etc....

v/r

Mike