Which sub-step is NOT part of the COA Comparison process?

The correct answer is that "Risk Mitigation Analysis" is not part of the Course of Action (COA) Comparison process. The COA Comparison step is primarily focused on evaluating different courses of action based on established criteria, which includes comparing COAs directly, analyzing their advantages and disadvantages, and ultimately conducting decision briefings to present findings and recommendations.

During the COA Comparison process, planners assess and juxtapose the proposed courses of action to determine which is most viable based on mission success criteria, feasibility, and suitability. The advantages and disadvantages analysis helps to evaluate the impact of different actions, while the comparison covers a systematic review of how each option performs against set benchmarks.

Risk Mitigation Analysis, while important in the overall planning and decision-making framework, typically falls under the larger umbrella of operations planning or risk assessment rather than the specific COA Comparison process. It usually occurs at different phases of the decision-making process, where planners identify potential risks and develop plans to minimize those risks, rather than in the execution of the comparative analysis of the COAs themselves.