Which of the following is NOT listed as a Step 5 COA Comparison substep?

• A. Conduct COA advantages and disadvantages analysis.
• B. Compare COAs.
• C. Determine a recommended COA.
• D. Draft operation orders.

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is understanding what activities belong to the COA Comparison step. During this step, you evaluate each proposed course of action by weighing its advantages and disadvantages, compare the COAs against established criteria (such as feasibility, suitability, and acceptability), and then determine a recommended COA based on that comparison. Drafting operation orders, however, is not part of this comparison process. Drafting the operation orders happens after a COA is selected and approved, as part of plan development and the actual order writing that follows the decision. So the action that isn’t part of Step 5 is drafting operation orders.