At what step of the IPOE process is the event template created?

The creation of the event template occurs in the fourth step of the Intelligence Preparation of the Operational Environment (IPOE) process. At this stage, analysts begin to refine and synthesize the information gathered in the earlier steps, which involved defining the operational environment, describing the effects of the operational environment on friendly and adversary capabilities, and identifying the enemy's most likely course of action.

The event template serves as a visual representation that helps in forecasting potential enemy actions based on the gathered intelligence. It illustrates possible scenarios for how the operational environment could evolve, allowing leaders and decision-makers to understand where and how they might need to respond to adversary actions. Thus, the fourth step is critical in transforming the analyzed information into actionable plans, which is why the creation of the event template is positioned within this step.