diff --git a/init_env b/init_env
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..9f1cd88
--- /dev/null
+++ b/init_env
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+SKATO_ANSIBLE_ROOT=$(dirname "$0")
+set -o allexport
+source "${SKATO_ANSIBLE_ROOT}/standard_paths"
+set +o allexport
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diff --git a/standard_paths b/standard_paths
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a0f367c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/standard_paths
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+# SKATO_ANSIBLE_ROOT=
+
+# Relative directory paths for role templates/files
+SKANSIBLE_ARIA="aria2"
+SKANSIBLE_PROFTPD="proftpd"
+SKANSIBLE_PROFTPD_CONFS="${SKANSIBLE_PROFTPD}/conf.d"
+# @NOTE below 4 filepaths have filenames that must correspond to 
+# the filenames in role ProFTPd templates'/files' Display settings 
+SKANSIBLE_PROFTPD_CONFS_WELCOME="${SKANSIBLE_PROFTPD}/conf.d/WELCOME.txt"
+SKANSIBLE_PROFTPD_CONFS_BANNER="${SKANSIBLE_PROFTPD}/conf.d/BANNER.txt"
+SKANSIBLE_PROFTPD_CONFS_SUCCESS="${SKANSIBLE_PROFTPD}/conf.d/SUCCESS.txt"
+SKANSIBLE_PROFTPD_CONFS_EXIT="${SKANSIBLE_PROFTPD}/conf.d/BYE.txt"
+SKANSIBLE_SSHD_CONFS="sshd_config.d"
+SKANSIBLE_SYSTEMD="systemd"
+SKANSIBLE_SYSTEMD_USER_UNITS="${SKANSIBLE_SYSTEMD}/user"
+SKANSIBLE_FAIL2BAN="fail2ban"
+SKANSIBLE_FAIL2BAN_JAILS="${SKANSIBLE_FAIL2BAN}/jail.d"
+SKANSIBLE_FAIL2BAN_FILTERS="${SKANSIBLE_FAIL2BAN}/filter.d"
+SKANSIBLE_GITCONFIG_CONFS="gitconfig.d"
+# @NOTE files in here must have extension "key" with IDs in  
+# "gpg_keys" inventory variable list as basenames.
+SKANSIBLE_GPG="gnupg"
+# @NOTE files in path below must have extensions "key" (private), 
+# "crt" (signed), or "pem" (public) with inventory host FQDN as basename
+SKANSIBLE_SSL="ca-certificates"
+
+# Other directories
+SKANSIBLE_SECRETS="${SKATO_ANSIBLE_ROOT}/.secrets"
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