text: Planning
  Table 4-3. Course of action analysis (war game)
  MDMP
  Inputs IO Officer Actions IO Officer Outputs
  Step
  6 December 2016 FM 3-13 4-27
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  • Updated running estimate. • Develop evaluation criteria for each • Potential decision
  • IPB/combined information COA points
  overlay • Gather the tools • Initial assessment
  • Updated assumptions • List all friendly IRCs measures
  • List assumptions • Updated assumptions
  For each COA — • Synchronize tasks performed by • An evaluation of each
  different IRCs and subordinate military deception COA
  • Scheme of IO and commands in terms of criteria
  objectives for each COA • Coordinate IO with cyber established before the
  sketch electromagnetic activities war game
  • Execution timeline • Integrate scheme of IO into the
  concept of operations for each For each COA —
  COA
  • Synchronize scheme of IO with • An evaluation in terms
  higher and adjacent headquarters of criteria established
  • Identify enemy information warfare before the war game
  capabilities and likely actions and • Recorded input to war
  reactions game results
  • War game friendly IRCs against • Refined scheme of IO
  enemy vulnerabilities and display • Refined tasks
  the results • Refined input to attack
  • War game friendly IRC impacts on guidance matrix and
  various audiences and populations target support matrix
  and display the results • IRs and requests for
  • War game enemy information information identified
  warfare capabilities against friendly during war game
  vulnerabilities and display the • Refined EEFIs and
  results OPSEC vulnerabilities
  • Synchronize and de-conflict targets and OPSEC measures
  • Determine whether modifications to • Paragraph 4 of the
  the COA result in additional EEFIs running estimate
  or OPSEC vulnerabilities; if so • Input to the G-3 (S-3)
  recommend OPSEC measures to synchronization matrix
  shield them • Input to the HPTL
  • Assign attack measures to HPTs.
  • Test OPSEC measures
  • Determine decision points for
  executing tasks
  • War game each military deception
  COA
  • Identify each military deception
  COA’s potential branches; assess
  risk to the COA
  • List the most dangerous or
  beneficial branch on the decision
  support template or
  synchronization matrix
  • Participate in the war game briefing
  (optional)
  COA course of action IPB intelligence preparation of the battlefield
  EEFIs essential elements of friendly information IR information requirement
  HPT high-payoff target IRC information-related capability
  HPTL high-payoff target list OPSEC operations security