JOPP v. MDMP JOPP V

JOPP v. MDMP

JOPP v MDMP

One way of comparing JOPP and MDMP is within and without. The two planning operations share many similarities, particularly within their tactical objectives and the art and science delivering those outcomes, but JOPP's wider jurisdiction outside the AO, and to higher levels of command are the most important differentiating attributes, themselves composites of multiple interlocking procedures.

Both procedures share similar objectives and methods. JOPP and MDMP use iterative and collaborative planning to achieve commander-centric but adaptive field objectives through a series of similar steps. In general, the two models share the same number of wider steps (seven); the result is products directing specific but broad objectives and orders to assets on the battlefield, and this is achieved through adaptive COA formation and analysis that starts with command but includes feedback from staff and ongoing adaptation as orders are developed, tested through wargaming, verified, authorized and then refined back downward into detailed commands achieving particular deliverables. These steps go from wider overall mission and timeline analysis, where the output is a mission statement, the Joint Force Commander initial intent statement and a list of commander's critical information requirements, which are to be fulfilled by staff toward the next stages of plan development, Course Of Action (COA) development. The COAs under both JOPP and MDMP set out the purpose of the mission, the physical boundaries and exactly how, where, when and in what order war fighting functions will deploy. Both iterative models contain multiple steps within this stage as staff fulfills command's information requirements as wargaming and comparison reveals all the enemy's possible COAs, to which command responds by anticipating and refining all possible actions, reactions and counteractions in both directions across the theater, and methods of evaluating those effects.

In specific, where these procedures differ within the procedures in technical ways that affect how the different forces implement command directives, purpose and intent. MDMP begins on receiving orders by immediately initiating a warning order to subordinate assets. The first stage of JOPP, however, integrates higher strategic national and campaign-level priorities into assessment and planning into JIPOE before the similar mission analysis step at which the MDMP alerts subordinate HQ of impending action. Aside from specific terminological and procedural intricacies that exceed the space of this description, for example Centers of Gravity in JOPP compared to MDMP 'decisive points,' or the number of steps and order products within COA development under each model, the major material difference occurs at the initiation level, where JOPP incorporates more senior command procedures before receipt or anticipation of impending orders begins Mission Analysis under MDMP.