Which of the following is a step in the MDMP?

• A. COA Development
• B. Mission Analysis
• C. Security Operations
• D. End State

Answer: (A)

MDMP is a structured method military planners use to turn a mission into a workable plan. A key step in that process is Course of Action Development, where the staff and commander generate several potential ways to accomplish the mission. In this stage, different options are sketched out so they can be analyzed later for feasibility and usefulness, ensuring they align with the commander’s intent and available resources.

This step follows mission understanding and problem framing, setting up a range of viable approaches that can be examined in detail during COA Analysis and COA Comparison. The goal is to produce distinct, workable alternatives rather than single, ad-hoc plans, so the best option can be chosen through a structured review.

Security Operations isn’t a named MDMP step; it refers to how operations are conducted to protect assets and maintain security, which can influence planning but isn’t itself one of the formal MDMP steps. End State is a planning concept—the desired outcome of the mission used to guide developing and evaluating COAs—not a separate MDMP step. Mission Analysis is indeed a step, but the question highlights the step focused specifically on creating multiple potential courses of action.