What is the first step in the Military Decision Making Process (MDMP)?

What is the first step in the Military Decision Making Process (MDMP)?

• A. Receipt of mission
• B. Mission analysis
• C. COA development
• D. Orders production, dissemination, and transition

Answer: (A)

Starting MDMP with receipt of the mission is about capturing the task assigned by higher headquarters, along with any initial intent, constraints, and timeline. That moment sets the baseline for planning, ensuring everyone understands the purpose and boundaries before any analysis begins. With the mission clearly stated, the team can then move into mission analysis to define the problem, assess the situation, and identify information gaps. Only after that understanding is established can viable courses of action be developed, evaluated, and compared. Orders production and dissemination come later, once a preferred course of action is chosen and approved.

Starting MDMP with receipt of the mission is about capturing the task assigned by higher headquarters, along with any initial intent, constraints, and timeline. That moment sets the baseline for planning, ensuring everyone understands the purpose and boundaries before any analysis begins. With the mission clearly stated, the team can then move into mission analysis to define the problem, assess the situation, and identify information gaps. Only after that understanding is established can viable courses of action be developed, evaluated, and compared. Orders production and dissemination come later, once a preferred course of action is chosen and approved.