MDMP Process
The Military Decision Making Process
SGT Tramal Williams
Bravo Company Madigan Army Medical Center
ALC 149-2014
August 17, 2014
The Military Decision-Making Process is an adaptation of the Army’s analytical approach to problem solving. It helps with knowing what to decide, when the orders are handed down. It includes understanding the consequence of decisions. Decisions are the means by which the commander translates his vision of the end state into action. Many aspects of military operations, movement rates, fuel consumption, weapons effects are quantifiable and, therefore part of the science of war. Other aspects which include the impact of leadership, complexity of operations, and uncertainty regarding enemy intentions belong to the art of war. There are seven steps to the Military Decision Making Process. Step One: Receipt of Mission - The purpose of this step is to plan the preparation. You receive the mission from higher headquarters, usually in the form of a written order. The Commander and Staff conduct a quick initial assessment of the warning order and then the Commander will issue his guidance. This is when you will get your initial time line and general location of the operation. Step Two: Mission Analysis – The purpose of this step allows the Commander to begin his battlefield visualization. He or she will define the problem and determine a process with feasible solutions. There are 17 steps that the Commander will go over with his staff. Beginning with analyze the higher headquarters order and ending with review facts and assumptions. Step Three: Course of Action Development – The intent and focus of this step is to get the staff to produce a creative comprehensive flexible plan within the time frame given. The Commander should participate which will help get them accurate answers to questions that will arise during this step. The Course of Action (COAs) needs to explain how
SGT Tramal Williams
Bravo Company Madigan Army Medical Center
ALC 149-2014
August 17, 2014
The Military Decision-Making Process is an adaptation of the Army’s analytical approach to problem solving. It helps with knowing what to decide, when the orders are handed down. It includes understanding the consequence of decisions. Decisions are the means by which the commander translates his vision of the end state into action. Many aspects of military operations, movement rates, fuel consumption, weapons effects are quantifiable and, therefore part of the science of war. Other aspects which include the impact of leadership, complexity of operations, and uncertainty regarding enemy intentions belong to the art of war. There are seven steps to the Military Decision Making Process. Step One: Receipt of Mission - The purpose of this step is to plan the preparation. You receive the mission from higher headquarters, usually in the form of a written order. The Commander and Staff conduct a quick initial assessment of the warning order and then the Commander will issue his guidance. This is when you will get your initial time line and general location of the operation. Step Two: Mission Analysis – The purpose of this step allows the Commander to begin his battlefield visualization. He or she will define the problem and determine a process with feasible solutions. There are 17 steps that the Commander will go over with his staff. Beginning with analyze the higher headquarters order and ending with review facts and assumptions. Step Three: Course of Action Development – The intent and focus of this step is to get the staff to produce a creative comprehensive flexible plan within the time frame given. The Commander should participate which will help get them accurate answers to questions that will arise during this step. The Course of Action (COAs) needs to explain how