What is the first step in the Military Decision Making Process (MDMP)?

The first step in the Military Decision Making Process (MDMP) is receiving the mission. This is a crucial initial phase where the leaders and their staffs receive and understand the directive or order they will act upon, which often includes a clear mission statement and specific tasks to accomplish. At this stage, the focus is on comprehension of the task, the mission's intent, and the constraints and resources available. This foundational understanding sets the stage for all subsequent steps in the process, including mission analysis, course of action (COA) development, and orders production, as these steps build upon the clarity and directives received during the mission reception. Without this initial step being effectively addressed, the later stages of analysis and planning would lack the necessary context and guidance to be executed successfully.