President Bill Clinton, speaking as might any commander-in-chief, on the eve of his decision to deploy ground troops to Bosnia in 1995, declared he had "no responsibility more grave than putting soldiers in harm's way." Such a statement suggests that a study of the decision-making process associated with the weighty matters of using force would be enlightening. Indeed, it is. The decision-making process is far from standardized nor is it simple. While all individuals associated with important decisions about national security and the lives of America's service members take their responsibilities seriously, the processes by which they reach their conclusions are varied and complicated. The book traces eight traditional and emerging theories or models of decision-making by first explaining the components of each model and then by analyzing its practical application through three case studies. Each chapter concludes with a discussion of the utility and explanatory power of the particular model. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

"Ths report documents the analysis, design, and development of the Military Decision-Making Process (MDMP): A Prototype Training Product. The MDMP product is a computer-based, stand alone training support package to assist individuals and staffs of light infantry brigades in learning to participate in the military decision-making process. The product consists of a compact disk that presents a self-paced course of instruction on now to conduct the MDMP. Doctrinal fundamentals based on FM 101-5 Staff Organization and Operations, serve as the basis. The course also contains numerous tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) that will assist staff officers in understanding and mastering their individual skills and their role in the collective process. This program, sponsored by ARI, was coordinated with the Joint Readiness Training Center leader's Training Program."--DTIC.

"This report documents the analysis, design, and development of the Division Level Military Decision-Making Process (MDMP) training product. The division level MDMP product is a computer-based, stand alone training support package envisioned to be used by the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC) to augment existing CGSC instruction on the MDMP. The product, a computer disk, provides a self-paced, detailed discussion of the steps of the MDMP, focusing on the battle staff at the division-level. Field Manual 101-5 Staff Organization and Operations served as the doctrinal source reference. The course also contains selected tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) that aid the CGSC student in conducting staff integration and coordination during mission planning. This project was coordinated with the CGSC."--Stinet.

"This report describes a concept experimentation assessment of battle command information requirements and military decision making in the 2010-2015 timeframe. This research was the first in a series of concept experimentation programs (CEPs) planned by the Mounted Battlespace Battle Lab (MBBL) at Fort Knox, KY, to re-engineer command and staff operations. This report focuses on research methods, exploratory results, and recommendations on method improvements for assessing battle command information requirements and the military decision making process (MDMP). The exploratory results provide a benchmark for future efforts and suggestions for improving information systems and future evaluations. Limitations and lessons learned on research methods are considered. Method recommendations address measurement approach issues, such as mission, enemy, terrain, troops, and time (METT-T) structure for determining information requirements, and the applicability of the MDMP in a real-time information environment. Recommendations on manual measures address the timing and scope of assessment and respondent workload. Finally, recommendations on instrumented measures stress reducing respondent workload and increasing measurement scope and precision."--Stinet.

Based on his background, education, training, and the information available at the time of his attack, Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer made good decisions as he lead the 7th Cavalry in its defeat at the Little Bighorn. Custer received the standard pre-commissioning education that West Point used to mold all future Army leaders. That education served him well in the Civil War where he enjoyed tactical success and a meteoric rise to fame and high rank. Following that conventional conflict, Custer entered into world of irregular warfare and voluntary forces. His defeat at the Little Bighorn ended 10 years of development as an unconventional warrior. Despite the common perception that his decisions invited disaster, by using the current Military Decision Making Process, and the intelligence available to him professionals of today can recreate the command decisions he made that day in June 1876 and possibly conclude that they were not to blame for the defeat. Custer’s military decisions are very similar to those a current leader would make using current military decision making doctrine.

Since 2004, the US Army has started a revolution of reorganization and doctrine development throughout its Combat, Combat Support and especially Combat Service Support “logistics” organizations, known as “Transformation.” In the logistics or “Sustainment” arena, the Army’s concept towards supporting other units has changed from the old “out-stockpile” the enemy concept towards a system used by modern civilian distributors – “Just-In-Time” sustainment, leaving planning and synchronizing throughput of commodities and support to the customer with little margin of error. To successfully accomplish this, Sustainment planners must thoroughly understand the Military Decision Making Process or “MDMP” for short. Conducting a Sustainment oriented MDMP is essential in integrating the Sustainment War Fighting Functional Area into the unit’s plan and for ensuring a synchronized and supportable course of action. Successful integration is a result of having the right personnel, available tools, correct MDMP methodology, and synchronized timeline throughout the process. If this guide can assist logistics’ planners in accomplishing this process, then it has accomplished its intent and mission.

This Army tactics, techniques, and procedures (ATTP) reinforces the fundamentals of mission command established in field manual (FM) 3-0, Operations; FM 5-0, The Operations Process; and FM 6-0, Mission Command. Whereas the above manuals focus on the fundamentals of mission command, this manual provides commanders and staff officers with tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) essential for the exercise of mission command.This is a new Army publication. It includes many of the appendices currently found in FM 5-0 and FM 6-0 that addressed the "how to" of mission command. By consolidating this material into a single publication, Army leaders now have a single reference to assist them with TTP associated with planning, preparing for, executing, and continually assessing operations. This ATTP also enables the Army to better focus the material in future editions of FMs 5-0 and 6-0 on the fundamentals of the operations process and mission command, respectively.

The study of operations research arose during World War II to enhance the effectiveness of weapons and equipment used on the battlefield. Since then, operations research techniques have also been used to solve several sophisticated and complex defense-related problems. Operations Research for Military Organizations is a critical scholarly resource that examines the issues that have an impact on aspects of contemporary quantitative applications of operations research methods in the military. It also addresses innovative applications, techniques, and methodologies to assist in solving defense and military-related problems. Featuring coverage on a broad range of topics such as combat planning, tactical decision aids, and weapon system simulations, this book is geared towards defense contractors, military consultants, military personnel, policy makers, and government departments seeking current research on defense methodologies.