Military Decision- Making Process An Overview... 1

Military Decision-Making Process

An Overview...

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ACTION: Describe the military decision making process (MDMP)

CONDITIONS: Given student handout, FM 101-5 ch. 5 and FM 34-8-2 ch. 3

STANDARD: Demonstrate an understanding of MDMP IAW FM 101-5 ch. 5 and FM 34-8-2 ch. 3

Objective

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Safety Reqs: None

Risk: IV, E, Low

Environmental Considerations: None

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Commanders make battlefield decisions. As intelligence NCOs, we must understand the factors that are

involved in the military decision making process (MDMP) that we can make informed decisions, thereby saving lives of service members. Over the

next hour we will discuss the factors involved in MDMP and try to simplify

the process as much as possible.

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MODEL VS. MDMP

RECOGNIZE &DEFINE PROBLEM

RECOGNIZE &DEFINE PROBLEM

GATHER FACTSMAKE ASSUMPTIONS

GATHER FACTSMAKE ASSUMPTIONS

DEVELOPPOSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

DEVELOPPOSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

ANALYZEEACH SOLUTION

ANALYZEEACH SOLUTION

SELECTBEST SOLUTION

SELECTBEST SOLUTION

COMPARESOLUTIONS

COMPARESOLUTIONS

RECEIVETHE MISSION

RECEIVETHE MISSION

MISSIONANALYSIS

MISSIONANALYSIS

COURSE OF ACTIONDEVELOPMENT

COURSE OF ACTIONDEVELOPMENT

COURSE OF ACTIONANALYSIS (WARGAME)

COURSE OF ACTIONANALYSIS (WARGAME)

COURSE OF ACTIONAPPROVAL

COURSE OF ACTIONAPPROVAL

COURSE OF ACTIONCOMPARISON

COURSE OF ACTIONCOMPARISON

Six Step Model

MDMPFM 101-5AUG 96

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MDMPMDMP

• A systematic approach to problem solving.

• A commander and staff checklist to ensure key elements of tactical planning are not missed.

• Established and proven analytical process.• Tool that assists the commander and staff in

developing a plan.• Helps the commander and staff examine a battlefield

situation and reach logical decisions.• Applies thoroughness, clarity, sound judgment, logic,

and professional knowledge to reach a decision.

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7 Steps of MDMP7 Steps of MDMP

1. Receipt of Mission2. Mission Analysis3. COA Development4. COA Analysis (Wargaming)5. COA Comparison6. COA Approval7. Orders Production

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Military Decision-Making ProcessMilitary Decision-Making Process

STEP 1

RECEIVE THE MISSION

MSN FROMHIGHER

WARNORD TO STAFF

ASSESSMENT OFAVAILABLE TIME

INITIAL CDR’sGUIDANCE

WARNORD

RECON?

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Receipt of MissionReceipt of Mission

• Gather tools on receipt of Warning Order– Map– SOP’s– FM’s– Staff Estimates

• Initial Assessment– Time Available / time needed– IPB– Light requirements– Status of staff

Warning Order

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STEP 2

MISSION ANALYSIS

IPB: MCOO, SIT TEMPS, HVTL, CRITICAL EVENTS, & EVENT TEMP

CDR’s INTENT & INITIAL PLANNING GUIDANCE

RESTATEDMISSION

INITIAL CCIRs

INITIAL R&SPLAN

MISSION ANALYSISBRIEF

WARNORD

MISSION FROMMISSION FROMHIGHERHIGHER

TIME ANALYSISTIME ANALYSIS

CDR’s INITIALCDR’s INITIALGUIDANCEGUIDANCE

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17 Steps of MA17 Steps of MA

*Analyze Higher’s Order*Initial IPB*Specified, Implied, Mission Essential Tasks*Review Available Assets*Determine Constraints*Facts and Assumptions

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17 Steps of MA (Cont')17 Steps of MA (Cont')

*Risk Assessment*Initial CCIR*Initial R&S Plan*Plan use of time*Restated Mission*MA briefing

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17 Steps of MA (Cont')17 Steps of MA (Cont')

*Approve Restated Mission*Develop Initial Cdr’s Intent*Issue Cdr’s Guidance*Issue a Warning Order*Review Facts and Assumptions

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STEP 3

COADEVELOPMENT

RESTATEDMISSION

CDR’s INTENT& INITIALPLANNINGGUIDANCE

INITIAL CCIRs

IPB PRODUCTS

COA STATEMENTS& SKETCHES

COA BRIEF(OPTIONAL)

PRODUCE ONLYVIABLE COAs

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Military Decision-Making Process Military Decision-Making Process

STEP 4

COA ANALYSIS (WAR GAME)

APPROVED COAAPPROVED COASTATEMENTS &STATEMENTS &SKETCHESSKETCHES

UPDATED CCIRsUPDATED CCIRs

UPDATED IPBUPDATED IPBPRODUCTSPRODUCTS

DST & BOS SYNCHMATRIX (PER WAR GAME)

TGTING PRODUCTS:HPTL, AGM, TSS (PERWAR GAME)

REFINED COAs(FCOA & ECOA)

REFINED EVENTTEMP

FCOAs + & - (BASED ONEVALUATION CRITERIA)

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DECISION BRIEFINGDECISION BRIEFING

STEP 5

COA COMPARISON

DECISION MATRIXDECISION MATRIX

FCOAs + & - FCOAs + & - (BASED ON(BASED ONEVALUATION EVALUATION CRITERIA)CRITERIA)

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STEP 6

COA APPROVAL

DECISIONDECISIONBRIEFBRIEF

CDR APPROVESSTAFF RECOMMENDATION

CDR DISAPPROVES STAFF RECOMMENDATION

ISSUE WARNORDISSUE WARNORD ADVANCE TO STEP #7

BACK TO STEP # 4

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STEP 7

PRODUCE THE ORDERS

APPROVEDAPPROVEDCOACOA

FINALIZEDFINALIZEDCCIRsCCIRs

OPORD

R&S ANNEX

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Full MDMPFull MDMP

• Process occurs at all levels

• Staff must apply thoroughness, clarity, sound judgment, logic, and professional knowledge to make MDMP work.

• More deliberate and detailed war-game

• More preparation and rehearsal time

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?

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MDMP

MDMP

MDMP

MDMPMDMP(TIME-CONSTRAINED)(TIME-CONSTRAINED)

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When time-constrained MDMP is done

When time-constrained MDMP is done

• Severely limited time < 10 hours for

• Staff not available

• Single COA

• Extensive involvement by the commander

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Only One ProcessOnly One Process

• Staff must first master the full MDMP

• MDMP is a sound and proven process– Omitting steps is not a solution

• Keys to success:– Anticipation / Organization /

Prior preparation

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Four Primary TechniquesFour Primary Techniques

• Increase CDR’s involvement– CDR makes decisions during process– No detailed briefings after each step

• CDR’s guidance is more directive– Limits staff options– Focuses staff on CDR’s priorities

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• CDR limits COAs– Saves the most time

– Developed and War-gamed

– One COA in extreme cases

– End-state is one Viable COA

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• Maximize Parallel Planning– Most critical

– Warning orders

– Verbal now

– Share all available info with subordinates ASAP (IPB)

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AdvantagesAdvantages

• Maximizes use of available time

• Allows subordinates more time

• Focuses staff on specific/directive guidance

• Adaptable to rapidly changing sit

• Allows commander to compensate for lack of or inexperienced staff

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DisadvantagesDisadvantages

• Limits staff flexibility and initiative

• Does not explore all friendly options

• May result in oral or frag order

• Increases risk of overlooking key factor or significantly better option

• Decreased coord and synch

VISION INTENT CONCEPT OFOPERATION

MISSION

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

ART OF WAR

SCIENCE OF WARExperience

Judgement

Intuition Methodology

Procedures

Techniques

Tactics

Doctrine

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QUESTIONS ??QUESTIONS ??

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Q Upon receipt of the mission from higher headquarters, what is one of the areas that the staff needs to review prior to mission analysis?A: Maps, SOPs , FMs and any existing estimates

Q: How many steps are in Mission Analysis?

A: There are 17 steps.

Q: What products are developed in Mission Analysis?

A: MCOO, Situation Templates, HVTL, Event Template, initial R&S plan

Q: What is another name for COA Analysis, and what products are created in this step?A: COA Analysis is called Wargaming. The products produced are DST, BOS Sync Matrix, HPTL

Q: What techniques are involved in time-constraint MDMP? Four?

A: Increased CDR involvement, Direct CDR guidance, CDR limit number of COAs, Maximize parallel planning 32

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MDMPMDMP

Summary

• 7 Steps

• Time Constrained

Documents

Military Decision- Making Process An Overview... 1