STEP 6 – Course of action approval

Question 1

Step 6 – COA Approval

Answer 1

Input =
•Updated Running Estimates
•Evaluated COAs
•Recommended COA
•Updated Assumptions

Output =
•CDR Selected COA and any Modifications
•Refined Commander’s Intent/ CCIRs, and EEFIs
•Updated Assumptions

Question 2

COA Approval – Decision Brief

Answer 2

•A decision briefing includes:
–The intent of the higher and next higher commanders
–The status of the force and its components
–The current IPB
–The COAs considered, including—
•Assumptions used
•Results of staff estimates
•Summary of wargame for each COA to include critical events, modifications to any COA, and wargame results
•Advantages and disadvantages (including risk) of each COA
•The recommended COA

Question 3

COA Approval – Commander’s Decision

Answer 3

•CDR rejects all of the proposed COAs.
–Start COA development over
•CDR modifies the proposed COA.
–Wargame the new COA
•CDR accepts the proposed COA.
–Receive the CDR’s final planning guidance

Question 4

COA Approval – final planning guidance

Answer 4

•The final planning guidance includes:
–Refined commander’s intent (if necessary)
–New CCIR to support execution
–Risk acceptance- (CDR must obtain the higher CDR’s approval to accept any risk that might affects the higher commanders mission. If time permits, CDR use a VTC to discuss acceptable risk with adjacent, subordinate, and senior commanders.)
–Guidance on priorities for the WFF, orders preparation, rehearsal, and preparation
–Includes priorities for resources to preserve

Question 5

COA Approval: EWO Responsibility

Answer 5

•During COA approval the EWO should have the following products and information:
–New direction provided in the refined commander’s intent
–New CCIR that can be used in support of EW operations for the chosen COA
–Risk Acceptance
–Guidance on priorities for the elements of combat power, orders preparation, rehearsal, and preparation

Question 6

COA Approval – Issue WARNO (3rd)

Answer 6

•Staff issues WARNO to subordinate HQ’s containing the information needed to refine their plan:
–Mission
–Commander’s intent
–Updated CCIR and EEFI
–Concept of operations (from apprvd COAs)
–AO
–Principal tasks assigned to subordinate units
–Preparation and rehearsal instructions not included in the SOPs
–Final time line for the operations

Question 7

EWO Responsibility After COA Approval

Answer 7

•EWO and EW working group generate or gather the following products and information:
–An updated command and control nodal analysis of the threat relevant to the selected COA
–Required RFIs to refine the threat command and control nodal architecture
–Latest electronic order of battle tailored to the selected COA
–Any new direction provided in the refined commander’s intent
–A list of any new commander’s CCIRs that can be used in support of EW operations
–WARNO to assist developing EW operations required to support the OPORD/OPLAN
–Refined input to the initial information collection plan, including:
•Additional specific EW information requirements
•Updated potential collection assets for the unit’s information collection plan

Question 8

What are the three components of COA approval?

Answer 8

1. Staff recommends COA
2. CDR does / does not select COA
3. CDRs refinement

Question 9

After completing the analysis and comparison, what happens if the staff cannot reach a decision on the best COA to recommend to the commander?

Answer 9

Start over.