Which of the following best describes the role of survivability operations?

The role of survivability operations fundamentally revolves around enhancing the ability of forces to withstand combat and sustain themselves in various hostile environments. Option B, which focuses on altering the physical environment for defense, accurately captures this concept. Survival operations often involve creating or modifying terrain to provide better defensive positions, enhancing concealment, and improving the overall resilience of units against enemy actions. This might include building bunkers, establishing barriers, and using natural features of the landscape to protect personnel and equipment.

While increasing the speed of troop movements can be beneficial in a broader operational context, it does not specifically align with the core objective of survivability operations, which is focused more on protection rather than mobility. Providing heavy artillery and assisting in logistics training, although important components of military operations, do not directly relate to the concept of altering the environment for defensive purposes. Thus, the emphasis on shaping the physical surroundings to bolster defense is what makes option B the best description of survivability operations.