What is the first step of the MDMP?

• A. Mission Analysis
• B. Receipt of the Mission
• C. COA Development
• D. COA Approval

Answer: (B)

MDMP begins with receiving the mission. That moment is the trigger for all planning activity because it provides the official task, constraints, and initial intent from higher headquarters that the entire staff will use to understand what has to be accomplished and by when. Once the mission is received, the team moves into Mission Analysis to clarify the commander's intent, identify the problem, determine essential tasks, and surface any assumptions or gaps in information. Only after this understanding is built do you move to developing courses of action, analyzing and comparing them, and then gaining approval before producing plans or orders. So, the receipt of the mission is the starting point because it defines what you’re planning for and sets the board for everything that follows.