text: Chapter 4
  Table 4-2. Example of a SHORAD battalion decision support matrix (continued)
  DECISION POINT 1 2 3 4 5
  COMMENTS A&B Btrys: Counter-recon Screening force Expect main body Provide dedicated
  battle begins. battle begins. to follow artillery air defense for
  Prep to cross LD.
  Div trigger to cross prep. four bridges in
  C&D Btrys:
  LD. division sector.
  Provide air
  C Btry: move fwd
  defense of assets
  with div reserve.
  in the div rear.
  AAA air avenue of approach LADW local air defense warning
  ADW air defense warning LD line of departure
  ALT alternate NAI named area of interest
  BDE brigade PL phase line
  BN battalion SEAD suppression of enemy air defense
  BTRYS batteries SOR state of readiness
  DIV division SPT support
  DS direct support UAS unmanned aircraft system
  FARP forward arming and fueling point VIC vicinity
  FWD forward WCS weapons control status
  GS general support WPNS weapons
  MDMP Step 5–COA comparison. COA comparison is an objective process to evaluate all COAs
  independent of each other and against set evaluation criteria approved by the commander. The staff compares
  the strengths and weaknesses of each to identify the one that offers the best possibilities to accomplish the
  mission. The staff identifies its preferred COA. The staff then delivers a decision briefing to the commander,
  including the following:
  * Commanders' intent of higher and next higher commanders.
  * Status of the force.
  * Current IPB.
  * COAs considered, including the assumptions used, a summary of the wargame for each COA, the
  advantages and disadvantages of each COA and finally, the recommended COA.
  MDMP Step 6–COA approval. After the decision briefing the commander selects the COA to best
  accomplish the mission. After approving a COA, the commander issues the final planning guidance, a refined
  commander's intent and any additional guidance on priorities for defense, prepares orders, and directs and
  supervises rehearsals. Based on the commander's decision and final planning guidance, the staff issues an
  additional WARNORD to the batteries.
  MDMP Step 7–Orders production, dissemination, and transition. Time permitting, the battalion
  commander and staff meet with the battery commanders to brief them on the commander's concept and the
  decision support matrix. After this briefing, the battery commanders backbrief the battalion commander. The
  battalion commander allocates sufficient time for the battery commanders to plan and prepare their units;
  generally, one-third of the time is reserved for battalion planning and two-thirds for battery planning and
  preparation. If time is constrained, this process may be abbreviated or modified.
  The SHORAD battalion commander develops an air defense operations order for the battalion and an
  air defense appendix to the fires and protection annexes (in conjunction with the AMD section) for the
  division operation order (OPORD). The operations order serves as a directive to subordinate units to relay
  the commander's orders. It is intended to coordinate the activities of all organizations participating in the
  specified mission. The staff prepares, coordinates, authenticates, reviews, publishes and distributes written
  operations order and plans. Each section of the staff will contribute to the main body or a specific annex,
  containing information pertinent to its field of expertise. Appendix D describes the formats of ADA orders.
  SHORT-RANGE AIR DEFENSE BATTERY PLANNING
  Air defense mission accomplishment depends upon battery commanders and platoon leaders carrying
  out mission-type orders on a constantly changing battlefield. Battery and platoon planning is an interactive