1. COA Development Steps Analyze available forces.
Generate options (brainstorming)
- determine decisive point and main effort
- determine supporting efforts
- determine purposes for main and supporting efforts
- determine essential tasks for efforts
Array initial forces (2 levels down)
Develop the scheme of maneuver (details to accomplish mission)
Assign headquarters
Prepare a COA statement and sketch (Decisive point, form of maneuver,
and statement of each task to be accomplished)
Write your mission statement using the 5Ws.
8. Write your commanders intent to address key tasks or conditions that
must be met to achieve the stated purpose and end state.
Notes:
COA statement must clearly portray how the unit will accomplish mission.
Sketch provides a picture of the COA with control measures,
prominent features and legend if required
Together they cover the task organization as well as the tasks and
purposes of all units

2. COA Sketch Rope Bridge Team SE: Far side Team
T-Tie round turn w/two half hitches
P – Secure rope on far side
x Wireman's
x Two links
x One link
x - Far side man x
x x x
x x
ME: Transport Team
T-Tie wireman's knot & round turn w/two half hitches
P – Secure rope tightly on near side
CDRs Intent: Purpose of the rope bridge team is to construct a bridge to cross the obstacle as quickly as possible. The end state of this operation is when everyone has crossed the site and no knots or snap links remain on the rope.
COA Statement: We will utilize three teams to accomplish this task. The Transport team is the ME responsible for tying the wireman's knot, nearside knot and controlling the crossing. Far Side and Pull Teams are supporting efforts to assist the ME. Decisive to this operation is the proper securing of the rope bridge to both the far and near side anchor points.
SE: Pull Team
T-Pull the rope
P– Tighten near side rope
Mission: The Raider Team will execute one rope bridge crossings on Friday at 1500hrs during practice at the Raider Site in order to learn how to quickly and efficiently cross a given obstacle.

3. COA Development and Briefing Technique
Designate the following for developing and briefing your COA: TM Leader,
Briefer, Recorder, Timer and Pointer.
2. Updated Intelligence (Situation to include available forces, enemy forces,
weather and terrain)
3. Restated Mission (who, what, when, where and why)
4. Commanders Intent (Addresses key tasks or conditions that must be met
to achieve the stated purpose or end state)
5. Cover the COA sketch while paraphrasing the COA Statement.
- Use a pointer to explain the sketch (should be a separate person)
- If necessary read the COA statement, so as to not leave out details

4. OPERATION ORDER FORMAT
Task Organization (States how the unit is organized for the operation)
I. Situation:
A. Enemy Forces (Light and Weather Data, Terrain and
Enemy Most Probably Course of Action)
B. Friendly Forces (Higher Mission 2 levels up and location of adjacent units
II. Mission: (who, what, when, where and why)
III. Execution: CDRS Intent, A. Concept of Operation (COA Statement), B.
Maneuver (Task and Purpose of subordinate units), C. Task to subordinate
units (specified tasks), D. Coordinating Instructions (Applies to 2 or more
units, i.e. order of movement, formations and timeline)
IV. Service and Support: A. Materials (equipment, food and water, supplies)
B. Medical (Medics or First Aide equipment)
V. Command and Signal: A. Command (Location of key personnel and
succession of command), B. Signal (Method of communication and
signals)