What is the primary focus during the Course of Action Approval step?

The primary focus during the Course of Action (COA) Approval step is to gain the commander's consent to proceed with the selected COA. This step is crucial as it ensures that the proposed plan aligns with the commander's intent and strategic objectives. The commander's approval indicates that they are confident in the chosen COA and that the staff has adequately presented the necessary information to support their decision-making process. This step fosters unity of effort and enables the planning team to move forward with clear direction and authority.

In this context, while defining mission goals is important, it is part of earlier steps in the MDMP process, focusing more on ensuring all actions support the commander's intent rather than final approval. Identifying potential risks and liabilities is also a critical part of planning, but it primarily occurs during the COA development rather than the approval stage. Reviewing past operations can provide valuable insights, but as this is not the focal point of the COA approval, it does not carry the same weight in this specific step. The emphasis is firmly on securing the commander's consent to affirm that the selected COA is acceptable for execution.