text: Chapter 4
  * Feasible: the COA allows mission accomplishment within the established time, space and resource
  limitations.
  * Acceptable: the COA balances cost and risk with the advantage gained.
  * Suitable: the COA can accomplish the mission in accordance with the commander's intent and
  planning guidance.
  * Distinguishable: each COA must differ significantly from the others.
  * Complete: the COA must describe all subordinate operations that lead to mission accomplishment.
  MDMP Step 4–COA analysis. COA analysis enables commanders and staffs to identify difficulties or
  coordination problems as well as probable consequences of planned actions for each COA being considered.
  During this step, the staff wargames the developed COAs. The wargaming process should begin with all staff
  members having a thorough understanding of the S-2's updated IPB. The S-2 uses NAIs from the division G-
  2's IPB to follow major enemy maneuver actions. The S-2 then integrates the aerial terrain analysis with this
  ground IPB. The S-2 identifies key points where the enemy will attempt to penetrate and or exploit and where
  aircraft may likely be used to best support the enemy's objective. The S-2 will then display the analysis using
  a decision support template, which is a drawing showing the G-2's condensed situation template with a terrain
  analysis and the appropriate ground and air avenues of approach, NAIs, target areas of interest, and decision
  points. The decision support template must show activities in time and space through the entire AO.
  * The SHORAD battalion staff then analyzes the battalion's response to the S-2's anticipated enemy
  courses of action, focusing on developing a synchronized air defense response to the enemy's main
  air attack and ensuring the battalion has an integrated response, from early warning to engagement,
  for each COA. Contingency operations COAs must consider the reaction of the civilian
  population, refugee control, and collateral damage. The SHORAD battalion staff needs supported
  maneuver force graphics to pinpoint maneuver units which have the best potential to be in the
  vicinity of the enemy's main effort. Next, the staff discusses each contingency. The staff conducts
  a session to visualize the upcoming battle based on potential enemy actions, develops decision
  points, and identifies them on the decision support template. Anything can happen in an operation,
  and the potential decision points are thus limitless. However, the staff must assess friendly
  capabilities versus enemy intentions to determine what COAs the enemy will most likely adopt
  and identify these as decision points.
  * The decision support matrix is the principal planning tool which allows the staff to visualize the
  battlefield, courses of action, and develop a synchronized response to varied enemy actions. The
  decision support matrix captures the ADA and the maneuver commanders' intents. An example of
  a battalion decision support matrix is shown in table 4-2 on page 4-7. The event row depicts
  activities/actions of the supported maneuver force; the intelligence row focuses on activities that
  require air defense responses.