What is the first step in COA Analysis?

The first step in Course of Action (COA) Analysis is to gather the tools necessary for conducting the analysis effectively. This step involves collecting all relevant resources, methodologies, and materials that will be used throughout the COA analysis process. By gathering these tools first, the decision-making team sets a foundation for systematic examination and comparison of various COAs, ensuring that the analysis is thorough and well-supported.

In this context, if the decision-making team were to skip gathering the tools, it could lead to disorganized analysis and potential oversight of critical factors. Therefore, establishing this preparatory step is crucial for ensuring that subsequent steps can be performed with efficiency and clarity.

The other options involve tasks that may come later in the analysis process. While listing all friendly forces, known critical events, and selecting a war-gaming method are important parts of the overall COA analysis, they are not the initial action needed to commence the process. By starting with the gathering of tools, the team ensures that they have everything necessary to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of their COAs.