STEP 1 – Receipt of mission and STEP 2 – Mission analysis Flashcards
Describe the seven steps of the military decisionmaking process (MDMP)
–Receipt of mission –Mission analysis –Course of action development –Course of action analysis (war-gaming) –Course of action comparison –Course of action approval –Orders production, Dissemination, and Transition
STEP 1 - Receipt of Mission
Input = Pre-planning (anticipation)
• Higher HQ Plan
• New Mission
• Anticipated MSN
Output =
•Commanders Initial Guidance
•Initial Allocation of Time
•Warning Order 1
Purpose of “Receipt of Mission” step?
–Alert all participants of pending planning requirements
–Determine time available for planning and preparation
–Decide on planning approach
–Guidance on design and how to abbreviate MDMP
Steps in the Receipt of Mission PROCESS are as follows:
–Alert the Staff – operations section alerts the staff who participates in mission analysis
–Gather the tools
–Update running estimate – especially status of friendly units and resources
–Conduct an initial assessment (time, organic assets, etc.)
–Issue the commander’s initial guidance
–Issue the initial warning order
STEP 1 - Receipt of Mission - PROCESS - Tools:
Tools included, but not limited to: –Higher headquarters’ OPLAN and OPORD (2 levels up) –Maps of the area of operations –Higher headquarters intelligence and assessment products –Own and higher headquarters’ SOPs –Appropriate publications –Existing staff estimates –Any design products
STEP 1 - Receipt of Mission - PROCESS - Running Estimates:
Each staff sections begins updating its running estimate
–Especially friendly units
–Resources and key civil considerations
Running estimates
–Compile critical facts and assumptions
–Include info from other staff sections and other military civilian organizations
Developing and updating is a continuous process throughout MDMP and the operations process
STEP 1 - Receipt of Mission - PROCESS - Conduct Initial Assessment
- Time available from mission receipt to mission execution (1/3 Rule : Parallel Planning)
- Time needed to plan, prepare for, and execute the mission for own and subordinate units
- Guidance on abbreviating the MDMP, if required.
- Which outside agencies to incorporate into planning process.
- Staff’s experience, cohesiveness, and level of rest or stress
- Includes allocation of available time for planning, preparing, and executing the operation
- One-third of time for commander and staff planning and two-thirds of available time to subordinate units for planning and preparation
- Continuously updated
STEP 1 - Receipt of Mission - PROCESS - Commander’s Initial Guidance
- Initial operational timeline
- Decision to initiate design or go straight into MDMP.
- How to abbreviate the MDMP, if required.
- Necessary coordination to perform, including liaison officers (LNOs) to exchange.
- Authorized movement and initiation of any information collection
- Collaborative planning times and locations
- Initial information requirements (IRs) or commander’s critical information requirements (CCIR) (as required)
- Additional staff tasks.
STEP 1 - Receipt of Mission - PROCESS - Initial WARNO
The initial WARNO will include at a minimum: –The type of operation –The general location of the operation –The initial operational time line –Any movements to initiate
STEP 1 - Receipt of Mission - Recap / Notes:
- Mission comes from higher headquarters or is derived from an ongoing mission.
- XO/COS issues a WARNO to the staff.
- The staff prepares for mission analysis (update staff estimates, maps of AO, higher headquarters SOPs).
- Commander and staff do a quick assessment with emphasis on an initial allocation of available time.
- Commander issues initial guidance; G3/S3 issues WARNO 1 to subordinate units. (Auth’s initial subordinate unit movements)
STEP 1 - Receipt of Mission - EW Tasks:
•Upon receipt of mission, the electronic warfare officer (EWO) will alert the staff supporting the EW working group.
•Gather the necessary resources required for mission analysis. Resources might include:
–Higher headquarters operation order or plan
–Maps of the area of operations (AO)
–Electronic data bases
–Required publications and SOPs
–Current running estimates
–Available reachback resources
• Provides input to the staff’s initial assessment.
• Updates the EW running estimate
–Identifies all friendly EW assets/resources and their statuses throughout the operations process
• Assists the commander and staff.
–Monitors, tracks, and seeks information relating to EW operations
Step 2 – Mission Analysis
Input =
•Mission from Higher HQ
•Time Analysis
•CDR’s Initial Guidance
Output = •Problem Statement •Mission Statement •Initial Commanders Intent •Initial Planning Guidance (Time) •Initial CCIRs and EEFIs •Updated IPB and Running Estimates •Assumptions
STEP 2 - Mission Analysis:
- Most important step in MDMP
- Refines commanders’ situational understanding and determines their mission
- Enables better commander’s visualization of the operation
•Requires input from: –Higher HQ plan or order –Higher HQ intelligence preparation of the battlefield (IPB) –Updated running estimates –Initial commanders guidance –COA evaluation criteria
STEP 2 - Mission Analysis – Task 1 – Analyze the Higher HQ Order
•Commander and staff must ensure they completely understand: –Higher headquarters’ •Commander’s intent •Mission •Concept of operation •Available assets •Timeline –Missions of adjacent units –Mission of interagency, intergovernmental organizations that work in the operational area –Assigned area of operations
STEP 2 - Mission Analysis – Task 2 – Perform the Initial IPB:
Systematic Continuous Process
Step 1:
Define the Operational/ Battlespace
Environment
Step 2:
Describe the Environment/ Battlespace effects on Operations
Step 3:
Evaluate the Threat/ Adversary
Step 4:
Determine Threat/ Adversary COAs
