1. The MDMP Process MDMP Inputs MDMP Outputs Step 1 MDMP Inputs Step 5
Higher headquarters’ plan or a new mission anticipated by the commander
Alert the staff and key participants
Gather Tools
Conduct Initial Assessment
Step 1
Receipt of
Mission
Commander’s initial guidance
Initial allocation of time
Updated Running Estimates
Evaluate COAs
Evaluation Criteria
Recommended COA
Updated assumptions
Step 5
COA
Comparison
Evaluated COAs
Recommended COAs
Updated running estimates
Updated assumptions
Issue Warning Order
Warning Order #1
Initial Warning Order: Includes at a minimum the type of operation, general location of the operation, the initial timeline, and any movement or reconnaissance necessary
Targeting
Blank Targeting Support Matrix (TSM)
Blank asset chart
Blank AGM, HPTL, & TSS chart
MDMP Inputs
Step 3
MDMP Outputs
Refine TSM wit input from all WfF
Refine AGM and TSS
Develop target list and FSCM
Access relative combat power
Approved problem statement
Approve mission statement
Initial commander’s intent, planning guidance, CCIRs, and EEFIs
Updated IPB and running estimates
Facts and Assumptions
COA Statements and sketches
- Tentative task organizations
- Broad concept of the operations
Generate options
Identify resource shortfalls
Updated Facts and Assumptions
Updated IPB and running estimates
Revised planning guidance
Conduct COA briefing
Select or modify COAs for continued analysis
Problem Statement – a concise statement of the issue or issues requiring resolution
The mission statement contains the elements of who, what, when, where, and why, but seldom specifies how.
MDMP Inputs
Step 6
MDMP Outputs
Commander’s intent - Expanded purpose, key tasks, and end state.
Updated Running Estimates
Refined COAs
Evaluation Criteria
War-game result
Commander-selected COA and any modifications
Refined commander’s intent, CCIRs, EEFIs
Updated assumptions
Step 3
Course of
Action
(COA)
Development
Targeting
• Designate potential high-payoff targets.
• Deconflict and coordinate potential high payoff targets.
• Develop high-payoff target list.
• Establish target selection standards.
• Develop attack guidance matrix.
• Develop fire support and cyber/electromagnetic activities tasks.
• Develop associated measures of performance and measures of effectiveness.
Receive HPTL
Step 6
COA
Approval
IPB
Determine available assets by WfF.
MDMP Inputs
Step 2
Mission
Analysis
MDMP Outputs
Approved Problem Statement
Approved Mission Statement
Issue initial commander's intent
Issue initial planning guidance
Issue initial CCIRs and EEFIs
Updated IPB and running estimates
Updated assumptions
Conduct mission Analysis Brief
Issue initial themes and messages
Resource shortfalls
Issue updated operational timeline
Issue
Publish updated operational timeline
Develop COA evaluation criteria
Present the mission analysis briefing
Targeting
Refine TSM wit input from all WfF
Refine AGM and TSS
Develop target list and FSCM
Issue Warning Order
The COA decision briefing includes:
The commander‘s 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 running estimates.
A summary of the war game for each COA, including critical events, modifications to any COA, and war-game results.
Advantages and disadvantages (including risk) of each COA.
The recommended COA. If a significant disagreement exists, then the staff should inform the commander and, if necessary, discuss the disagreement.
Higher headquarters’ plan or order
Higher headquarters’ knowledge and intelligence products
Knowledge products from other organizations
Develop proposed Problem Statement
Develop a proposed mission statement
Develop initial commander’s intent
Develop initial planning guidance
Update running estimates
Determine specified, implied, and essential tasks
Review available assets
Determine constraints
Design Concept (if developed)
Perform Initial IPB
Identify critical facts and develop assumptions
Develop initial CCIRs and EEFIs
Develop initial R&S synchronization tools
Develop R&S plan
Update plan for use of available time
Develop initial themes and messages
Begin composite risk management
Warning Order #3
Mission
Commander’s intent
Updated CCIRs and EEFIs
Concept of the operations
The AO
Principal tasks assigned to subordinate units
Preparations and rehearsal instructions not included in the SOPs
Final timeline for the operations.
COA Briefing format:
An updated IPB.
Possible enemy COAs.
The approved problem statement and mission statement.
The commander‘s and higher commander‘s intent.
COA statements and sketches, including lines of effort if used.
The rationale for each COA, including—
Considerations that might affect enemy COAs.
Critical events for each COA.
Deductions resulting from the relative combat power analysis.
The reason units are arrayed as shown on the sketch.
The reason the staff used the selected control measures.
The impact on civilians.
How the COA accounts for essential stability tasks / LOE.
Updated facts and assumptions.
Refined COA evaluation criteria.
Targeting
Finalize the high-payoff target list.
Finalize target selection standards.
Finalize the attack guidance matrix.
Finalize the targeting synchronization matrix.
Finalize fire support tasks.
Finalize associated measures of
performance and measures of effectiveness.
Submit information requirements to S-2.
Issue Warning Order
Warning Order #2
Approved mission statement
Commander’s intent
Changes to task organization
Unit AO (sketch, overlay, some other description)
CCIRs and EEFIs
Risk guidance
Priorities of warfighting functions
Military deception guidance
Essential stability tasks
Specific priorities
MDMP Inputs
Step 7
MDMP Outputs
Commander-selected COA with any modifications
Refined commander’s intent, CCIRs, and EEFIs
Updated assumptions
Step 7
Orders
Production
Approved operations plan or order
Plans and Orders Format (page 12-16)
Base OPORD
SITUATION
MISSION
EXECUTION
SUSTAINMENT
COMMAND & SIGNAL
ANNEXES:
A – Task Organization
B – Intelligence
C – Operations
D – Fires
E – Protection
F – Sustainment
G – Engineer
H – Signal
I – not used
J – Inform and Influence Activities
K – Civil Affairs Operations
L – Reconnaissance and Surveillance
M – Assessment
N – Space Operations
O – not used
P – Host-Nation Support
Q – spare
R – Reports
S – Special Technical Operations
T , W, X, Y– spares
U – Inspector General
V – Interagency Coordination
Z – Distribution
4 Steps of IPB
Define the operational environment.
Describe the effects of the operational environment.
Evaluate the threat.
Determine threat courses of action.
Targeting
Update Detect, Delivery, Assess availability chart
Submit Air Tasking Order (ATO) request
MDMP Inputs
Step 4
MDMP Outputs
Updated running estimates
Revised planning guidance
COA Statement and sketch
Updated Facts and Assumptions
Step 4
COA
Analysis
(War Game)
Refined COAs
Potential Decision Points
Wargaming results
Initial assessment measures
Updated assumptions
Targeting
• Perform target value analysis to develop fire support (including cyber/electromagnetic and inform/influence activities) high- value targets.
• Provide fire support, inform/influence, and cyber/electromagnetic activities input to the commander’s targeting guidance and desired effects.
Mission Analysis Briefing format (proposed):
Mission and commander‘s intent of the headquarters two levels up.
Mission, commander‘s intent, and concept of operations of the headquarters one level up.
A proposed problem statement.
A proposed mission statement.
Review of the commander‘s initial guidance.
Initial IPB products, including civil considerations that impact the conduct of operations.
Specified, implied, and essential tasks.
Pertinent facts and assumptions.
Constraints.
Forces available and resource shortfalls.
Initial risk assessment.
Proposed information themes and messages.
Proposed CCIRs and EEFIs.
Initial ISR plan.
Recommended timeline.
Recommended collaborative planning sessions
War-game briefing format includes the following:
Higher HQ‘s mission, commander‘s intent, and military deception plan.
Updated IPB.
Friendly and enemy COAs that were war-gamed, including—
Critical events.
Possible enemy actions and reactions.
Possible impact on civilians.
Possible media impacts.
Modifications to the COAs.
Strengths and weaknesses.
Results of the war game.
Assumptions.
War-gaming technique used.
Targeting
Provide hard copy of TSM, HPTL, AGM, and TSS (part of order requirements)
Targeting
Develop High Payoff Target List
Develop Named Areas of Interests (NAIs)
Develop TSS / AGM
Targeting
Finish TSM with input from all WfF
Refine AGM and TSS
Develop targeting FSCM