Which three actions are accomplished in Step 5 (Course of Action Comparison)?

• A. Update CCIR, EEFI and PIR
• B. Provide data, Process information and Decision brief
• C. Gather the tools, list known critical events and decision points, and determine evaluation criteria
• D. Conduct Advantages/Disadvantages Analysis, Compare COAs, and Conduct a COA decision brief

Answer: (D)

In Step 5, the focus is on evaluating potential courses of action by weighing their advantages and disadvantages, then comparing the COAs against each other and the established criteria, and finally presenting a recommendation. You start by conducting an advantages/disadvantages analysis for each COA to lay out the benefits, risks, and tradeoffs. Next, you compare the COAs against the evaluation criteria and against one another to see which option best satisfies mission requirements, constraints, and risk tolerance. Finally, you conduct a COA decision brief to communicate the preferred COA and the rationale behind it to the commander, including key risks and supporting data. The other options mix tasks that belong to different steps, such as updating information requirements or gathering criteria and tools in earlier stages, so they don’t capture the core activities of comparing COAs and deciding on one to pursue.