what course of action means in the army

Definition of the term 'course of action ' per official documentation of the United States Department of Defense. 1. Any sequence of activities that an individual or unit may follow. 2. A possible plan open to an individual or commander that would accomplish, or is related to the accomplishment of the mission.

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What does a complete course of action consist of?

Definition of the term 'course of action ' per official documentation of the United States Department of Defense. 1. Any sequence of activities that an individual or unit may follow. 2. A possible plan open to an individual or commander that would accomplish, or is related to the accomplishment of the mission. 3.

Why course of action development is the foundation of the plan?

Aug 12, 2021 · By Marcus Colby. In the military, service members must maintain operational readiness at all times. A human performance platform helps facilitate this by bringing specialists together, enabling data-driven decision-making, and facilitating better communication. Having a clear Course of Action (COA) at the beginning of your Human Performance program will help …

What is a course of action (CoA)?

courses of action; decide on a course of action that best accomplishes the mission; and produce an operation plan or order for execution. The MDMP helps leaders apply thoroughness, clarity, sound judgment, logic, and professional knowledge to understand situations, develop options to solve problems, and reach decisions.

How does a Commander develop a course of action?

Definition of the term 'course of action development ' per official documentation of the United States Department of Defense. The phase of the Joint Operation Planning and Execution System within the crisis action planning process that provides for the development of military responses and includes, within the limits of the time allowed: establishing force and sustainment …

What is a Course of Action statement army?

In incident-level decision making, a Course of Action (COA) is an overall plan that describes the selected strategies and management actions intended to achieve Incident Objectives, comply with Incident Requirements, and are based on current and expected conditions.

What is a military scheme of maneuver?

Description of how arrayed forces will accomplish the commander's intent. It is the central expression of the commander's concept for operations and governs the design of supporting plans or annexes. Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms.

How do you do a army raid?

A raid is a surprise attack against a position or installation for a specific purpose other than seizing and holding the terrain.... Approach the objective. Isolate the objective area. Set conditions for the assault element. Assault the objective. Tactical movement away from the objective area.

What does tactical mission mean?

A tactical mission task where a commander prevents the enemy from moving any part of his force. from a specific location for a specific period of time. 2. An engineer obstacle effect that focuses fire planning and. obstacle effort to slow an attacker's movement within a specified area, normally an engagement area.

What is the most valuable step within the course of action analysis?

DISCUSSION: Wargaming is the most valuable step within the course-of-action analysis. Observations from the CTCs indicate that few staffs understand how to war-game effectively, and that many staff officers are not involved in the procedure. By wargaming , the staff takes a course of action and begins to develop a detailed plan. Additionally, it can better synchronize the course of action when the entire staff is involved in wargaming . Information recorded during the warga me provides the information for the development of paragraph three (execution) of the operations order, the execution or synchronization matrices, and the decision support template. Because of the importance of its results, and the time it requires, more time is allocated than for any other step. Wargaming results in the identification of tasks, combat power requirements, critical events and priority efforts, task organization and command and support relationships, decision points and possible fratricide locations.

What is the scheme of maneuver?

The scheme of maneuver is a narrative description of how the forces arrayed will accomplish the commander's intent. Ensure the scheme of maneuver addresses the elements of the battlefield framework (deep operations, covering force/security force, close operations, rear operations, and reserve).

What is the purpose of the decision matrix?

THE DECISION MATRIX WILL HELP THE STAFF RECOMMEND .

What is the Military Decision Making Process?

Military Decision Making Process Course of Action Analysis. NOTE: The MDMP is an adaptation of the Scientific Method. A Problem is an Observation, Mission Analysis- Research, Mission- Hypothesis, and Course of Action Analysis (Wargame)- Experiment. Like a scientist, the tactician can use a simple process to analyze and compare options.

What are evaluation criteria?

As in an experiment or car purchase, evaluation criteria must be variables, rather than constants. If experimenting with pendulums, pendulum length, weight, and arc are each variables, which the scientist measures when analyzing the period of motion.

What is the military decision making process?

The military decisionmaking process (MDMP) is an iterative planning methodology to understand the situation and mission develop a course of action, and produce an operation plan or order (ADP 5-0). The MDMP facilitates collaborative planning.

What is an OPORD command?

Commanders and staffs often begin planning in the absence of a complete and approved higher headquarters’ operation plan ( OPLAN) or operation order (OPORD). In these instances, the headquarters begins a new planning effort based on a WARNORD and other directives, such as a planning order or an alert order from their higher headquarters.

How many steps are there in MDMP?

The MDMP consists of seven steps. Each step of the MDMP has various inputs, a method (step) to conduct, and outputs. The outputs lead to an increased understanding of the situation facilitating the next step of the MDMP.

What is smartbooks?

Recognized as a “whole of government” doctrinal reference standard by military, national security and government professionals around the world, SMARTbooks comprise a comprehensive professional library.

What is MDMP in the Army?

The MDMP is one of the Army's three planning methodologies. According to Army Doctrine Publication 5-0, The Operations Process, the MDMP is "an iterative planning methodology to understand the situation and mission, develop a COA, and produce an operation plan or order.".

What are the criteria for a COA?

The criteria of a COA includes the following: • Feasibility. A feasible COA can accomplish the mission within the given time, space, and resource limitations. • Acceptability. An acceptable COA must have the right balance among cost, risk, and the potential advantaged gained. • Suitability.

What is step 3 of MDMP?

Planners create those options during step 3 of the MDMP (course of action development). In order to avoid the common pitfall of providing only one sustainment COA, planners must make a conscious effort to differentiate their COAs whenever possible.

Can a sustainment planner develop multiple COAs?

Many sustainment planners are unable to develop multiple sustainment courses of action (COAs) when planning to support a single concept of the operation developed by maneuver planners. All too often, sustainment planners find them-selves presenting a single sustainment COA, thereby failing to provide sustainment commanders with options during ...