text: Fire Support and the Operations Process
  Table 3-11. Course of action approval
  MDMP STEP 6: COURSE OF ACTION APPROVAL
  Staff Actions Key FSE Actions FSE Output
  • Recommends a COA, usually • Assess implications and take • For the approved COA:
  in a decision briefing. actions as necessary to finalize • Refined scheme of fires.
  • The commander decides which s ine cle luc dt ie nd g s ac th tee nm de a no tf Hfi Pre Ts L, • Refined Annex D (FIRES) and
  COA to approve.
  TSS, and AGM. appendices.
  • The commander issues final • Integrated information • FSEM.
  planning guidance.
  collection capabilities and • Target list worksheet.
  • Issues warning order to CEMA input into these
  subordinate HQ. targeting products. • Target overlay.
  • Observer plan.
  • Participates in COA approval
  briefing. • TSM or modified (HPTL, TSS,
  and AGM).
  • Include scheme of fires and
  EFSTs. • FSEMs.
  • The FSCOORD assists the • NAIs and TAIs.
  commander in the • Airspace requirements and
  development of the refined associated recommended
  commander’s intent and ACMs.
  planning guidance.
  • Prepare FS portions of warning
  order including changes to
  CCIR, risk guidance, time
  sensitive reconnaissance tasks
  and EFSTs requiring early
  initiation.
  • Prepare tentative FS portions
  of OPORD.
  • Participate in rehearsals.
  ACM – airspace coordinating measure, AGM – attack guidance matrix,
  CCIR – commander’s critical information requirements, CEMA – cyberspace electromagnetic activities,
  COA – course of action, EFST – essential fire support task, FS – fire support, FSCM –fire support coordination measures,
  FSCOORD – fire support coordinator, FSE – fire support element, FSEMs – fire support execution matrix,
  HPTL – high-payoff target list, MDMP – military decision-making process, NAI – named area of interest,
  OPORD – operation order, TAI – target area of interest, TSM – target synchronization matrix,
  TSS – target selection standards
  3-76. During the staff's COA approval briefing to the corps/division commander, the FSCOORD briefs the
  scheme of fires as a part of each COA brief. The level of detail for this brief, including the portion briefed by
  the FSCOORD varies depending on the commander's level of participation in the war game and any specific
  briefing requirements that FSCOORD has issued. Normally, the FSCOORD covers the key details of the
  OPORD scheme of fires subparagraph 3e, emphasizing each EFST and any critical FS restrictions,
  limitations, or considerations pertinent to that COA. The FSE generally provide a sketch, map overlay, or
  terrain model to help convey details of the FS plan more clearly. If the FSCOORD perceives the need, they
  may request for additions or changes to the commander's intent or guidance for FS.
  3-77. Once a COA is approved, the commander may refine the commander's intent and issue additional
  planning guidance. The FSCOORD and FSE prepare the FS portions of the order and participate in the
  required back-briefs and rehearsals. The warning order issued after COA approval contains information that
  executing units require to complete planning and preparation. Possible fires input to this warning order
  includes:
  * FS contributions to the commander's intent or concept of operations.
  * Changes to the commander's critical information requirements.
  * Additional or modified risk guidance.
  * Time-sensitive reconnaissance tasks and EFSTs requiring early initiation.