During which step of the MDMP is war-gaming conducted?

The correct answer is found in Step 4 of the Military Decision-Making Process (MDMP), where war-gaming is conducted. This step is crucial as it allows commanders and their staff to visualize the potential outcomes of each Course of Action (COA) based on interactive and realistic scenarios. During war-gaming, participants evaluate each COA against various enemy actions and reactions, assessing the strengths and weaknesses inherent in each approach.

This process helps in identifying possible challenges, risks, and contingencies that could arise during execution. With war-gaming, the staff engages in critical analysis and collaborative thinking, ensuring that all possible factors are considered before a final decision is made.

In contrast, COA Development focuses on creating multiple feasible and suitable options to address the mission. COA Comparison evaluates those developed options against predefined evaluation criteria but does not involve the real-time analysis that occurs during war-gaming. Lastly, Orders Production is the final step in which the selected COA is translated into clear and actionable orders but does not encompass the dynamic scenario assessment that is characteristic of war-gaming.