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MDMP-M Step 2: Course of Action Development

March 2016

Multinational Planning Augmentation Team Mobile Training Team (MPAT MTT)

Reference: MNF SOP Version 3.0

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Purpose

• Discuss what a Course of Action (COA) is • Provides a method to develop COAs

• Reference

- Multinational Force Standing Operating Procedures (MNF SOP)

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MDMP-M Steps

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• A COA is any force employment option that, if adopted, will result in the accomplishment of the MNF mission

• Tentative COAs are initial conceptualizations and broad descriptions of potential approaches to operations

• What a COA is not: - Concept of Operations (CONOP): Developed after the

COA has been chosen (detailed) - Scheme of Maneuver (SOM): Operational forces

maneuver plan to achieve specific objectives (not detailed)

What is a COA?

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COA Development Concepts

• COA should incorporate the following: – Products that come from Mission Analysis

o Commander’s Planning, Guidance & Intent – WARNORD #2

o Refined Operational Design • Beyond these directives, a COA consists of:

– Military and non-military supportive action – Reasons, actors, and timing of operations – Phasing of operations to include intent

• During crisis action planning, the time available to plan and the level of detail are directly proportional

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COA Development Conditions

• Starting Conditions – Commander’s Planning Guidance & Intent (WARNORD

#2) is published and distributed – Operational Design is further refined

• Ending Conditions – COAs have been developed to identify possible ways to

attain the military end-state – Commander approves COAs for further planning

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• Inputs – Approved Commander’s Intent & Mission Statement – Current Commander’s Planning Guidance – Current OIPE – Objectives, Effects and Tasks – Initial Staff Estimates

• Outputs

– Approved Tentative COAs – Revised Staff Estimates

COA Development Inputs & Outputs

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Course of Action Development

1. Organize the Planning Teams 2. Review the Situation (OIPE, Problem Framework, Commander’s

Planning Guidance & Intent, Commander’s Operational Design) 3. Develop Potential Solutions & Required Capabilities 4. Develop COA Statements 5. Develop Command & Control (C2) Options 6. Review / Establish MNF AO (Geographic ) Boundaries 7. Develop a COA Sketch with Supporting Narrative 8. Review COA for Validity (Suitable, Feasible, Acceptable) 9. Review COA for Totality (Complete) 10. Review / Update Risk Analysis 11. Update Staff Estimates based on COAs 12. Refine COA Sketch and Supporting Narrative 13. COA Brief Agenda 14. Publish Approved COAs

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Step 1: Organize the Planning Teams

Teams need sufficient staff representation

• Plan for COA Development – Team fully understands planning factors, including

Commander’s Planning Guidance & Operational Design – A determination if time allotted for COA development

allows for one or more OPTs – Team composition

• Assignment of Tasks – By operational function (command & control (C2),

movement, fires, protection, intelligence, sustainment, etc.)

– Or by component (CFLCC, CFMCC, CFACC, etc.)

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• Review OIPE (situational factors), problem framework, Commander’s Planning Guidance & Intent, and Commander’s Operational Design

Step 2: Review the Situation

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• Focus on essential tasks first • Develop and integrate joint and multinational aspects into

COAs • Focus on Center of Gravity (COG) and Critical Factors • Identify sequencing and phasing • Identify main and supporting efforts • Identify component level missions / tasks • Outline concepts of sustainment for COAs

Remain focused on the operational level

Step 3: Develop Potential Solutions & Required Capabilities

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Ph 0: Shape

Ph 1: Deter

Ph 2: Seize Initiative

Ph 3: Dominate

Ph 4: Stabilize

Ph 5: Enable Civil Authority

Initiate IO Plan

HA C

oordination

Establish FOB

Conduct IO

Air Superiority

Maritim

e Superiority

Forcible entry Saipan

Forcible Entry Tinian

Eliminate Ability to

Project Power

Seize Saipan/Tinian

HA Saipan/Tinian

Freedom of

Navigation

HA Turnover

Turnover to HN

Forces

Redeploy

CFLCC x x x x x x x x x x x x CFMCC x x x x x x x x x x x CFACC x x x x x x x x x x CSOTF x x x x x x CPOTF x x x CMOTF x x x x x CCTF x x x x x

x Phase Main Effort / Task Supported Commander

x Task Supported Commander

x Task Supporting Commander

Step 3: Solutions (Example Matrix)

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• Initial COAs should address the “Big Six”: – WHO will accomplish the tasks? – WHAT must be performed? – WHEN will the operation begin and end? – WHERE will the tasks occur? – WHY (for what purpose) conduct the operation? – HOW will the operation be conducted?

Step 4: Develop COA Statements

This is the first time “HOW” is addressed in this process

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• Determine Command Relationships – Supported / Supporting – Operational Control (OPCON) – Tactical Control (TACON) – Support (General, Mutual, Direct, Close) – Other relationships (Administrative Control, Coordinating

Authority, Direct Liaison) • Force Organization Options

– Service components – Functional components – Subordinate MNFs – Combination of the above

Step 5: Develop Command & Control (C2) Options

C2 structures emerge from the type of sub-task force organizations that are necessary

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• Area of Responsibility (AOR) • The geographical area in which a Supported Strategic

Commander has authority to plan and conduct operations • Area of Influence (AOINF)

• A geographical area wherein the Commander is directly capable of influencing operations by maneuver or fire support systems normally under the Commander's command or control

• Area of Interest (AOI) • That area of concern to the Commander, including the area of

influence, areas adjacent thereto, and extending into enemy territory, that is subject to the objectives of current or planned operations. This area also includes areas occupied by enemy forces who could jeopardize the accomplishment of the mission

Step 6: Review / Establish MNF AOR /AOINF /AOI Geographic Boundaries

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Step 7: Develop COA Sketch with Supporting Narrative

COA narrative will incorporate phases and main effort

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Step 8: Review COA for Validity

• Suitable (Adequate) • Can accomplish mission within Commander’s guidance

• Feasible • Can accomplish mission within established time, space, and

resource limitations • Acceptable

• Balances cost and risk with advantage gained • Distinct

• Is sufficiently different from other COAs • Complete

• Incorporates objectives and tasks, requirements for major capabilities (e.g., deployment, employment, and sustainment time-lines), military end-state conditions, and mission success criteria

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• Does it meet the Commander’s intent and intended effects?

• Does it accomplish all the essential tasks?

• Does it allow the MNF to meet the conditions for the end state?

• Does it take into consideration enemy and friendly COGs?

Step 8: Suitable (Adequate)

Does the COA allow end-states to be met?

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• Will the MNF have the required resources to carry out the COA and accomplish the mission?

• Will those resources be available in the Operations Area in time? – Forces – Transportation – Sustainment – Facilities

• Can the COA be carried out within environmental constraints? – Time, geographic space, and resources

Step 8: Feasible

Does the COA take constraints and restraints into account?

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Step 8: Acceptable

• Does the COA contain prohibitive risks? • Does it take into account the limitations placed

on the MNF? • Does it contribute to HHQ strategic objectives? • Can it be accomplished under external

constraints, particularly Rules of Engagement (ROE)?

• Can it be accomplished against each enemy capability?

Does the COA fit within HHQ’s strategic objectives?

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• Is each COA significantly different from the others? • Are COAs different from each other with respect to:

– Main effort? – Scheme of Maneuver? – Task organization? – Use of operational reserves? – Timing & phasing? – Primary defeat mechanism / method for mission

accomplishment?

Step 8: Distinct

Separate COAs should offer the Commander a choice

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• Are the COAs technically complete? Do they adequately answer the “Big Six” and accomplish the mission? – WHO will accomplish the tasks?

• Major forces – WHAT must be performed?

• Objectives, effects, and tasks – WHEN will the operation begin and end?

• Phasing criteria – WHERE will the tasks occur?

• Review the Operations Area – WHY (for what purpose) conduct the operation?

• Military end-state and mission’s success criteria – HOW will the operation be conducted?

• Concepts for deployment, employment, and sustainment

Step 8: Complete

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• COAs are reviewed for their totality: Do they provide a solution for the identified problem and address the degree which they will achieve the operational military objectives? • Step back to review the total solution • Recognize there will be no “one right solution” for

complex problems • Focus COA development on capability requirements

vice force requirements.

Step 9: Test for Totality

Are operational end-state requirements met?

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• A risk analysis is done on each COA, using: • Commander’s intent and risk tolerance • Expected cause and effect of solution’s impact on the

operational environment • Risk analysis and mission success criteria from the

Mission Analysis phase are applied • Consider both

• Risk to force • Risk to mission

Step 10: Risk Analysis

What risks will the solution create that were not present in the original environment?

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• Staff functional planners will introduce their estimate of the concepts of supportability and sustainability

• Estimate identifies and addresses known or anticipated factors that may influence the feasibility of providing required logistic support

• This support will affect the timing, intensity, and duration of the tentative COAs • Time / Phasing within plan to position support

personnel to receive and integrate required forces and move sustainment capabilities

Step 11: Update Staff Estimates

Timelines and phasing are critical concepts

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Each COA should address the following: • Broad concept of how the MNF will achieve the military end-state

conditions • Major strategic, operational, and tactical tasks to be accomplished • Capabilities required (force structure concept and force reserve

concept) • Task organization and related communications systems support

concept • Broad deployment concept • Broad sustainment concept • Phasing criteria • Identification of potential branches and sequels

Step 12: Refine COA Sketch and Supporting Narrative

Refinements are based on results of steps 8-10

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Branch – a contingency option built into the basic plan. Used for changing mission, orientation ,or direction of movement of a force in order to aid operational success based on anticipated events, opportunities, or disruptions caused by threat actions/reaction. Answers the “What if…?” questions, is usually located within a particular phase, and is immediate in nature (C3)

Sequel – a major operation that follows current operation.

Plans are based on possible outcomes (success, stalemate or defeat) associated with current operation. Normally planned for the “next” phase of operations and is long-term in nature (C5)

Step 12: Branches & Sequels

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• Intelligence Overview (C2) – Updated OIPE – Enemy COAs: most likely, most dangerous

• COA Presentations (Planning Groups) – Updated facts and assumptions – Review HHQ Mission and Intent – Review approved CTF Mission and Intent – COA statements and sketches

• Command and control recommendations • Summary of each COA • Rationale for each COA • Risks associated with each COA • Summarize / emphasize distinction among COAs

– Recommended COAs in priority for war-gaming • Additional Information (other brief attendees)

– Feedback, updated facts and assumptions, if available

Step 13: COA Brief Outline

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• Commander’s options: – Approve COAs for further analysis – Direct revisions to COAs – Direct development of additional COAs – Direct which threat COA (most likely &/or most

dangerous) has priority for war-gaming

Step 13: Receive Commander’s Guidance

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• Publish approved COAs to enable components to conduct concurrent planning.

COA

Comparison

COA Analysis

COA Development

Mission Analysis

Plan / Order Development

COA Selection

COA Comparison

COA Analysis

COA Development

Planning Guidance

Mission Analysis

Plan / Order Development

CTF Components

CTF Planning Staff

Warning Order #1

Warning Order #2

Warning Order #3

Step 14: Publish Approved COAs

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Review

1. Organize the CPG/COA Teams 2. Review the Situation (OIPE, Problem Framework, Commander’s

Planning Guidance & Intent, Commander’s Operational Design) 3. Develop Potential Solutions & Required Capabilities 4. Develop COA Statements 5. Review Command & Control (C2) Options 6. Review/Establish MNF AOR /AOINF /AOI Geographic Boundaries 7. Develop a COA Sketch with Supporting Narrative 8. Review COA for Validity 9. Review COA for Totality 10. Risk Analysis 11. Logistics Staff Estimate 12. Refine COA Sketch and Supporting Narrative 13. COA Brief Agenda 14. Publish Approved COAs

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Review

Discussion