The document summarizes the Military Decision Making Process (MDMP) used by the US military. It discusses the 7 steps of MDMP: mission analysis, course of action development, analysis, comparison, approval, orders production. It emphasizes that MDMP is a proven process but should be tailored based on factors like available time and the commander's guidance. The full process is not always needed and parallel planning techniques can help reduce time spent on MDMP.

1. Battle Command Seminar MILITARY DECISION MAKING PROCESS ( MDMP ) Major Frank J. Snyder 18 SEP 07

2. Purpose To facilitate a discussion on the Military Decision Making Process to include some techniques and procedures and some key points

4. Decision Making “ Success often depends on superior information that enables superior decisions. Effective decision making combines judgment with information as an element of combat power: it requires knowing if to decide, when to decide, and what to decide. It requires….identifying important information and focusing subordinates and the staff on it.” - FM 3-0

11. Visualize, Describe, and Direct Mission Analysis (MA) is crucial to the MDMP. It allows the commander to begin his battlefield visualization. The result of MA is defining the tactical problem and beginning the process of determining feasible solutions. How many steps in MA?

12. 10. Plan use of available time 11. Write the restated mission 12. Conduct a mission analysis briefing 13. Approve the restated mission 14. Develop the initial commander’s intent 15. Issue the commander’s guidance 16. Issue a WARNO 17. Review facts and assumptions 1. Analyze the higher HQ’s order 2. Conduct initial IPB 3. Determine specified, implied and essential tasks 4. Review assets available 5. Determine constraints 6. Identify critical facts and assumptions 7. Conduct risk assessment 8. Determine initial CCIR 9. Determine initial recon annex Mission Analysis What else is important?

13. COA Development Step 3 COA Development Restated mission Cdr’s intent & Initial planning guidance Initial CCIR Initial HVTL IPB products Output Input COA statements & sketches COA brief (optional)

14. ? RISK SIMPLICITY FLEXIBILITY EXPLOIT ENEMY VULNERABILITIES SURPRISE SPEED USE OF TERRAIN MAXIMUM USE OF LIGHT INFANTRY SUFFICIENT TIME ENDSTATE TEMPO MASS ECONOMY OF FORCE SECURITY UNITY OF COMMAND DEPTH SANCTUARY DENIAL LOC SECURITY Evaluation Criteria

15. Sanctuary Denial (x2): The prevention or hindrance of destabilizing force occupation of areas from which they obtain tactical benefit from the use of space, supply, personnel, or facilities. Measured as amount of combat patrols an MSC is capable of conducting within their AO over and above the commitments of Troops to Task. (More is Better) Freedom of Maneuver: Measured as total number of Battalion sized elements required for force protection at Forward Operating Bases. (Fewer is Better) Flexibility: Provides and preserves maximum options for the division and brigade commanders. Measured as the number of branch plans and sequels available to the division commander. (More is better) LOC Security: Ability and degree to which friendly forces operate unhindered by enemy direct action along the MSR. Measured as the length in KMs of Division MSR, the number of chokepoints along the MSR, and the number of forces allocated for security. (Less is better) Command and Control: The authority exercised by a commander over the activities of his assigned units and the ability of a commander to direct their actions. Measured as number of battalions task organized outside of their habitual Brigades, the number of BCTs with more than five task organized Battalions, and the number of follow – on RIPs required. (Fewer is better) EXAMPLE Evaluation Criteria

17. COA Development Essential Task and Purpose Regardless of COA, the unit must accomplish the higher commander’s intent by understanding its essential task(s) and purpose and its unique contribution to the higher commander’s mission success. Tasks for this COA Tasks for this COA Tasks for this COA COA 1 COA 2 COA 3 Essential task and purpose is common to all COAs (Suitability requirement)

19. COA Analysis Mission to subordinate units CCIR Refined COAs Targeting products: HPTL, AGM, TSS Output Input Approved COA Statements and sketches Updated CCIRs Updated IPB products Step 4 COA Analysis (War Game) Who is responsible for what product? Task Organization Wargame results DST and WFF synch matrix WARNO 3? Updated Collection plan Refined Event Temp

20. COA Comparison Commander’s decision brief Step 5 COA COMPARISON War game results Establish criteria Output Input Decision matrix War game brief (optional)

22. LOWER IS BETTER COA Numerical Analysis Decision Matrix CRITERIA 1 2 WEIGHT: x2 WEIGHT: x1 WEIGHT: x1 WEIGHT: x1 WEIGHT: x1 SANCTUARY DENIAL FREEDOM OF MANEUVER FLEXIBILITY LOC SECURITY C2 TOTAL 6(7) 8(10) 1(2) 2(4) 1(1) 1(1) 1(1) 2(2) 1(1) 2(2) 2(2) 1(1) Raw Score (Weighted) Example COA Comparison

23. COA Approval Specified type of order Approved COA Step 6 COA APPROVAL Decision matrix Decision brief Output Input Specified type of rehearsal Refine Timeline Modified COA Refined Cdr’s intent

24. Orders Production OPORD Step 7 ORDERS PRODUCTION Approved COA Output Input What does a good order look like? What is good enough?

26. PLANNING CONTINUUM AVAILABLE PLANNING TIME DRIVES MORE TIME LESS TIME Time Constrained MDMP LESS DETAILS IN CDR’S GUIDANCE MORE MORE FLEXIBILITY/LATITUDE LESS OF STAFF MORE NUMBER OF COAs FEWER DEVELOPED MORE LEVEL OF DETAIL/COORDINATION LESS IN OPORD LESS LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT MORE OF COMMANDER

28. Questions

35. Mission Analysis (MA) is crucial to the MDMP. It allows the commander to begin his battlefield visualization. The result of MA is defining the tactical problem and beginning the process of determining feasible solutions. Mission Analysis

39. Nesting the COA Intents XXXX Task & purpose Missions XXX Shaping XXX Decisive XX Decisive XX Shaping

40. Shaping Determine Shaping Tasks that must be accomplished if Decisive Operation is to succeed Shaping Objective Where the enemy is most vulnerable? Where the unit can generate overwhelming combat power? Shaping Decisive COA Development

43. Wargaming Methods Belt Technique Avenue-In-Depth Box Technique

50. 1. Specific courses of action to consider or not to consider, both friendly and enemy, and the priority for addressing them 2. CCIR 3. Reconnaissance guidance 4. Risk guidance 5. Deception guidance 6. Fire support guidance Commander’s Guidance Key Points (1 of 2)

51. 7. Mobility and countermobility guidance 8. Security measures to be implemented 9. Additional specific priorities for CS and CSS 10. Any other information the commander wants the staff to consider 11. Time allocation plan 12. Type of order to issue 13. Type of rehearsal to conduct Commander’s Guidance Key Points (2 of 2)