Which step in the MDMP includes war-gaming?

The step in the Military Decision Making Process (MDMP) that includes war-gaming is Course of Action Analysis. This phase is critical as it involves evaluating the proposed courses of action (COAs) against the enemy's capabilities and potential reactions. War-gaming is a key tool used during this step, allowing commanders and their staff to visualize how each COA would unfold on the battlefield.

During war-gaming, various aspects such as timing, resources, and the enemy's likely actions and counteractions are discussed and mapped out. This helps identify potential problems with each COA as well as unforeseen opportunities. Ultimately, it leads to a more informed decision on which course of action may be the most effective in achieving the mission objectives.

In contrast, the other steps of the MDMP serve different purposes. For instance, Receipt of the Mission involves understanding the mission itself and gathering essential information, while Course of Action Development focuses on brainstorming and forming potential COAs based on the mission. Orders Production, on the other hand, involves formalizing the chosen COA into actionable orders after the analysis has been completed. Therefore, war-gaming specifically fits within the Course of Action Analysis phase.