text: Chapter 4
  * Analyze possible solutions.
  * Select the best solution.
  * Implement the solution, assess results, and provide feedback.
  4-5. Chaplain sections and UMTs integrate into the collaborative planning of the MDMP. The MDMP is
  an iterative planning methodology. The MDMP helps chaplains and religious affairs specialists understand
  the situation and mission, develop COAs, and decide on a COA to accomplish missions. It integrates the
  activities of the commander, staff, subordinate headquarters, and other military and civilian partners to
  produce a fully synchronized plan or order for execution. Planning for any RS task must take into
  consideration the force structure, RS sustainment, an OE, and the AO. (See FM 6-0 and ATP 1-05.01 for
  more detailed discussions on the MDMP.)
  PLANNING RELIGIOUS SUPPORT
  4-6. A plan is a design for a future or anticipated operation. Because Army operations are conducted in
  complex, ever-changing, and uncertain OEs, a plan is a framework from which to adapt rather than a script
  to follow. The measure of a good plan is not whether execution transpires as planned, but whether the plan
  facilitates effective action during unforeseen events. Good RS plans address contingencies in current and
  future operations. Planning is an essential element of mission command and is a continuous activity of the
  operations process. The successful execution of RS functions and tasks requires UMTs fully integrated into
  the operations process. Planning helps chaplains and religious affairs specialists at all echelons of command
  by—
  * Identifying problems (potential and actual) that may impede delivery of RS.
  * Understanding and developing solutions to problems.
  * Anticipating key events and adapting to changing circumstances. It is an understanding of key
  events that means the difference between successful and unsuccessful planning.
  * Coordinating RS to sustain the task organization (unit and subordinate UMTs) and prioritize
  efforts.
  * Directing, coordinating, and synchronizing RS functions and tasks.
  4-7. RS planning is continuous, time sensitive, detailed, and systematic. It examines all factors relating to
  RS in unified land operations. It is integrated into and synchronized with the unit operations process. The
  most valuable resource is time. All chaplain sections and UMTs must manage time so that the RS mission
  gets accomplished. Chaplains and religious affairs specialists must prioritize their efforts and allocate
  sufficient time to that effort. The chaplain section and the UMT cannot be everywhere and must determine
  where to focus its efforts. They prioritize and synchronize their actions against the unit’s critical time driven
  events. The corps, division, and brigade chaplains and religious affairs specialists supervise subordinate
  planning, preparation, execution, and assessment activities by resourcing them with current and relevant
  information and products, low density faith-group resources, and providing relevant and timely guidance.
  The chaplain section and the UMT plans for RS by considering the operational and mission variables.
  Operational variables consist of political, military, economic, social, information, infrastructure, plus
  physical environment and time considerations. Mission variables are mission, enemy, terrain and weather,
  troops and support available, time available, and civil considerations. These variables determine how to
  provide RS. Operational variables provide the UMT a structured tool to assess the impact of religion on each
  of the variables. This action can provide the foundation for operational planning tools such as the running
  estimate.
  4-8. The planning process builds on already developed SOPs of the unit, the UMT, and higher chaplain
  sections. Most SOPs are initially general in nature and then fully developed to support a specific unit mission
  within a specified AO. Good SOPs reduce the amount of information needed in the published RS plan. Unit
  SOPs, such as a unit’s tactical SOP or a division memorial SOP, delineate roles and responsibilities for unit
  or staff personnel. Since a commander signs off on the unit tactical SOP, it becomes an authoritative
  document for RS supervision of subordinate chaplains and religious affairs specialists. A tactical SOP
  provides the supervisory chaplain with the enforcement tools necessary for the execution of area-wide RS
  functions. An internal staff section RS SOP details, by position, the team member responsible for each