Which item is NOT a key input for Step 6 COA Approval?

• A. Updated running estimates
• B. Evaluated COAs
• C. Updated assumptions
• D. Final commander's planning guidance

Answer: (D)

During COA Approval, the decision is based on the most current understanding of the operation and how each COA measures up against criteria. Updated running estimates provide the latest information on resources, timelines, constraints, and risks. Evaluated COAs present the results of analysis and comparison, showing which options best meet the mission intent while balancing risks. Updated assumptions reflect changes in intelligence or conditions that could affect outcomes, ensuring the chosen COA stands up to new information. Final commander's planning guidance, while crucial as the overarching directive that shaped the entire planning effort, isn’t a data input used to choose among COAs at this stage; it’s the framework that guided development and analysis rather than a specific input used in the approval decision.