APPENDIX
A
Military
Decision-Making Process (MDMP)
Officer
Professional Development (OPD) Training Program
Small-Group
Methodology
This
is an
example
Officer
Professional Development training program that replicates the small-group methodology
used to teach Military Decision-Making Process (MDMP) within TRADOC schoolhouses.
This methodology teaches MDMP in a freeze frame-- regular speed--fast forward
mode.
1.
FREEZE FRAME.
A
Battle Staff may be given as much as 8 hours to complete mission analysis for
the first mission. They take this time, up front, to go into excruciating detail
about every aspect of specified, implied and essential tasks. They then produce
the restated mission, and develop a warning order for dissemination to lower
element. Each subsequent MDMP step is trained and critiqued to the same level
of detail. Thus it may take 3 days to produce one OPORD with supporting graphics
in this freeze-frame mode of instruction. 2.
REGULAR SPEED.
The
regular speed iteration takes another mission and goes thru the same MDMP drill.
The tasks, standards and performance measures are all the same. The only condition
to change - time. Now, instead of 8 hours to do the mission analysis, the Battle
Staff may be given one hour to go thru mission analysis and produce a restated
mission. And so it is with subsequent MDMP steps. At each step however, the
resultant products are critiqued by the commander, and done to standard. 3.
FAST FORWARD.
This
is the final building block of this iterative process. In fast forward, the
time is compressed to similar real world, CTC time frames. Again, the task
and standards are the same. Only the condition of time is again compressed.
Now however, the staff is experienced in MDMP. They've learned how, what and
why the commander thinks. The Battle Staff is more adept at the compression
of MDMP steps, as appropriate. The TACSOP becomes more refined as a natural,
positive by-product of this training. The OPORD, with supporting graphics is
produced in a timely manner -- ready to get to the next lower echelon in time
for them to execute MDMP properly at their level. The
key to the success of such a training program is the hands-on application by
the commander, his Battle Staff and the habitually associated slice elements.
Such training would ideally be conducted prior to a major field training exercise,
ie. part of a building block OPD program. As the Battle Staff moves from freeze
frame to fast forward, then they should apply their newly acquired MDMP skills
in conjunction with an FTX or CPX.
CALL
will subsequently work in conjunction with the respective CTCs and TRADOC Schools/Centers
to create an exportable training package to support such a concept. In the
meantime, resourceful commanders can use the OPORDS and graphics already available
as part of CALL's Heads Up program for CTC-bound units to incorporate this
training right now.
Table
of Contents
TA.
7 Combat Service Support Operations
Acknowledgements
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