Which step comes immediately after Mission Analysis in the MDMP?

The step that follows Mission Analysis in the Military Decision-Making Process (MDMP) is COA (Course of Action) Development. This stage is crucial because it builds on the intimate understanding garnered during Mission Analysis, where the commander and staff assess the operational environment, understand the higher command's intent, and delineate the tasks necessary to accomplish the mission.

During COA Development, the team creates multiple potential plans to address how to achieve the mission. The emphasis at this stage is on generating a variety of options that consider different approaches, resources, and tactics. This strategic brainstorming allows the staff to visualize possible paths forward based on their analysis of the mission and situation.

Moving directly to COA Analysis after developing potential courses of action would lack the necessary options to evaluate, while Orders Production occurs later in the process, focusing on formalizing the chosen course of action into executable orders. Receipt of Mission, on the other hand, is the starting point of the MDMP, preceding Mission Analysis. Therefore, COA Development is the next logical step following the detailed assessment of the mission context established during Mission Analysis.