TheMilitaryDecision-MakingProcess

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Chapter5TheMilitaryDecision-MakingProces sDecisionmakingisknowingiftodecide, movementrates,fuelcon-sumption,weaponsef fects arequantifiableand,therefore, theimpactofleadership,complexityofoperat ions,andun-certaintyregardingenemyintent ions (MDMP)isasingle,established,andprovenana lyticalprocess.(SeeFigure5-1,page5-2.)Th eMDMPisanadaptationoftheArmy ,andhasasitsgoaltheproductionofanorder, ,clarity,soundjudgment,logic, ,deliber-ate,sequential,andtime-consumin gprocessusedwhenadequateplanningtimeands ufficientstaffsupportareavailabletothoro ughlyexaminenumerousfriendlyandenemycour sesofaction(COAs).Thistypicallyoccurswhe ndevelopingthecommander sestimateandopera-tionplans(OPLANs),when planningforanentirelynewmission,duringex tendedoperations, ,butwhereexistingMETT-Tfactorshavenotcha ngedsubstantially.(Seepage5-27foradiscus sionofdecisionmakinginatime-constrainede nvironment.)TheMDMPreliesondoctrine,espe ciallythetermsandsymbols(graphics) Itanalyzesandcomparesmultiplefriendlyand en-emyCOAsinanattempttoidentifythebestpo ssiblefriendlyCOA.

enemyandfriendlyCOAs,andtoanalyzeandcompare hisownorganization’scapabilitieswiththeenemy’s. Thisstaffefforthasoneobjective—tocollectivelyinte-