What's your COMBAT Experience with Military Decision Making Process (MDMP) or the Marine Corps Planning Process (MCPP)?

LTC John Wilson — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 15:09:48 -0400

I'm looking for feedback from those who have served down range as either a Battalion, Brigade, or Division Commander or served on a Tactical Staff (Battalion through Division or USMC equivalent), were part of a planning process and used (or didn't use) Doctrinal Planning Processes.

Did you work with or use the Military Decision Making Process (MDMP) [or the Marine Corps Planning Process] while deployed in combat operations?

If so, in what role were you participating and how many plans did you help develop?

If NOT, why not, and what Tactic, Technique or Procedure (TTP) did you use and in what role did you serve?

If you did use MDMP or MCPP, did you use the "Full" Doctrinal process or an "Abbreviated" process?

Did you pursue multiple courses of action, or did your unit focus on a single course of action?

How well did the resulting plan(s) work (on a scale of 1 to 10; 10 = Everything went exactly as planned)?

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2021 6:13 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Mar 2021 18:13:40 -0400

MDMP is essential to the planning process as a whole. As I am sure you are aware, there is ‘shortened” MDMP based on the WARNO or fluid environment that you or your unit are operating in. That being said,TTPs (Tactics, ,Techniques,and procedures) are set-up based on the environment you are operating in. For instance, as a MITT team leader, I have specific TTP for an AO vs another AO. As for the number of plans, if you have and established AO, then TTP are an effective way to conduct daily operations. If a new mission is sent down, then back to MDMP and development of COA’s and then execution to the selected COA. This is a great question and there are many ways to “skin the cat” I hope to see more replies that will help you out.

Response by COL Dan Fuhr made Mar 24 at 2021 7:36 PM

COL Dan Fuhr — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 19:36:43 -0400

As an infantry battalion commander in Afghanistan, I used a heavily abbreviated MDMP with a large leavening of SOP for most of our operations. Before I retired, I was a strong advocate that the full MDMP as taught in the schoolhouse while useful to understand the full potential of MDMP is rarely applicable other than for planning a major new operation. Pretty much all decision making after entering into the AO still follows the principles. I recommend against the rote reliance on ponderous OPORDs in favor of overlay based FRAGOs. The schoolhouse conditions staffs to produce time consuming and burdensome orders that nobody downstream has time to digest. MDMP is absolutely valid - the steps are all necessary. However, in many cases a command team & staff can do all of the steps in a conversation around a map with someone taking notes.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Mar 24 at 2021 9:22 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 21:22:37 -0400

Iraq 2003 and preparation for said operation we did deliberate MDMP at the MACOM level
- AMCOM we did abbreviated MDMP to generate the support annexes for Cobra II. It was one COA, the most likely operational COA and we did requirements, capabilities, shortfalls, workarounds, timing, and surpluses.
- as part of AMC SWA we did abbreviated MDMP in support of the operational and strategic COA when we did that first rotation through the next 6 -18 months.
- 2008-2009 Afghanistan BCT rotation. As a BDE Staff and BNs we did concurrent MDMP. It was one central COA to move us into theater and RIP. There were directed branches. Had to grind out changes to concept of support due to the COA being a boot for boot RIP with a unit that was larger than us. Had to figure out sustainment without a quarter of the BSB.
- we reconvened for major BDE level operations including redeployment.