What does the COA Approval step focus on?

The COA Approval step is primarily concerned with selecting the most suitable Course of Action (COA) for execution. This phase involves thorough assessment and comparison of the different COAs that have been developed during the earlier steps of the Military Decision Making Process. The objective is to identify which COA best aligns with the commander's intent and the overall mission objectives while also considering the operational environment and available resources.

During this step, the staff evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of each COA along with their potential impacts on the mission. The focus is on ensuring that the chosen COA is not only effective but also practical given the constraints and risks involved. Selection of the COA is crucial as it sets the foundation for subsequent planning and execution phases.

Other options, while relevant to different aspects of planning and decision-making, do not encapsulate the primary focus of the COA Approval step. For instance, determining feasibility is more appropriate in earlier phases of COA development, while finalizing the mission statement is a task usually completed prior to COA selection. Evaluating risks is part of the deliberation process but the core action is about selecting the best COA for actual implementation.