text: Chapter 5
  specific amount of supplies needed to support the operation. These requirements are then coordinated with
  the supporting sustainment unit or forward support element to ensure that the needed supplies are identified
  and resourced. The engineer staff officer then translates the estimate into specific plans that are used to
  determine the supportability of supported unit COAs. After a COA is selected, the specific sustainment input
  to the supported unit base OPORD and paragraph 4 of the engineer annex are developed and incorporated.
  Engineers must integrate sustainment with engineer plans. Engineer resources compete with other
  echelon logistics requirements. It is essential that the engineer communicate risk to the commander when
  making recommendations to prioritize sustainment. Sustainment must not be an afterthought. Engineers must
  coordinate and synchronize operations with the elements of sustainment. This must occur at all levels of war
  and throughout the operations process at all echelons. Engineer planners evaluate the sustainment
  significance of each phase of the operation during the entire planning process. They create a clear and concise
  concept of support that integrates the commander’s intent and concept of operation. This includes analyzing
  the mission; developing, analyzing, war-gaming, and recommending a COA; and executing the plan. Chapter
  7 details specific sustainment considerations for engineer planning. Table 5-6 lists some of the engineer
  planning considerations.
  Table 5-6. Engineer considerations in the military decisionmaking process
  MDMP Steps Engineer Considerations
  • Receive higher headquarters plans, orders, and construction directives.
  • Understand the commander’s intent and time constraints.
  Receipt of the mission
  • Request geospatial information about the AO.
  • Establish engineer-related boards, as appropriate.
  • Analyze the available information on existing obstacles or limitations.
  Evaluate terrain, climate, and threat capabilities to determine the potential
  impact on M/CM/S.
  • Develop the essential tasks for M/CM/S.
  • Identify the available information on routes and key facilities. Evaluate LOC,
  SPOD, and APOD requirements.
  • Determine the availability of construction and other engineering materials.
  • Review the availability of engineering capabilities, to include Army, joint,
  multinational, HN, and contracted support.
  • Determine the bed-down requirements for the supported force. Review
  theater construction standards and base camp master planning
  Mission analysis documentation. Review unified facilities criteria, as required.
  • Review the existing geospatial data on potential sites, conduct site
  reconnaissance (if possible) and environmental baseline surveys (if
  appropriated), and determine the threat (to include environmental
  considerations and explosive hazards).
  • Obtain the necessary geologic, hydrologic, and climatic data.
  • Determine the level of interagency cooperation required.
  • Determine the funding sources, as required.
  • Determine the terrain and mobility restraints, obstacle intelligence, threat
  engineering capabilities, and critical infrastructure. Recommend the
  commander’s critical information requirements.
  • Integrate the reconnaissance effort.