What are the five phases of the military planning process?

The correct answer identifies the five distinct phases of the military planning process, which are essential for developing effective strategies and ensuring successful mission outcomes. These phases include Receipt of Mission, Mission Analysis, Course of Action Development, Course of Action Analysis, and Orders Production.

• Receipt of Mission is the initial phase where information about the mission is gathered and understood, laying the groundwork for all subsequent planning.

• Mission Analysis involves breaking down the mission objectives to understand what is required, identifying the constraints and resources available, and determining the situation at hand.

• Course of Action Development is where various potential strategies are formulated to achieve the mission objectives, allowing planners to explore different options.

• Course of Action Analysis evaluates the feasibility, risks, and potential outcomes of each proposed strategy to determine the most effective approach.

• Orders Production culminates the process by formalizing the selected course of action into clear, actionable orders that guide the forces involved.

This structured approach ensures that planning is thorough, involves critical analysis, and results in actionable directives, which is fundamental to military operations. The other options do not provide this clear framework and instead mix different concepts of planning or focus on elements not specific to military contexts.