In which step of the MDMP do commanders and staff develop courses of action?

The step of the Military Decision Making Process (MDMP) where commanders and staff develop courses of action is Course of Action Development. During this phase, the staff collaborates to generate multiple potential solutions to the mission based on the analysis conducted in the earlier phases. This allows for thoughtful consideration of alternatives, ensuring that a variety of viable options are available for the commander to evaluate.

In this phase, several factors are considered, including the mission objective, enemy capabilities, terrain, and resources available. Each course of action is assessed against the mission's success criteria to identify its potential efficacy. This thorough analysis promotes comprehensive planning and prepares the staff and commander for the subsequent decision-making process, where they will select the most suitable course of action to achieve the mission goals.

The other steps of MDMP, while integral to the overall process, do not focus specifically on the development of courses of action. Mission Analysis involves understanding the situation and the mission requirements, Execution Planning pertains to the detailed planning for how to carry out the chosen action, and Orders Production concerns issuing clear and concise orders based on the selected course of action.