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G-2 MCWP 5-1
1. Mission. Mission statement results from problem framing.
2. Situation and Considerations
a. Characteristics of the Area of Operation
(1) Weather. How will different military aspects of weather affect specific staff areas of concern and
resources?
(2) Terrain. How will aspects of terrain affect specific staff areas of concern and resources?
(3) Other Pertinent Facts. Analyze political, economic, sociological, and psychological factors and infra-
structure as they relate to the area.
b. Adversary Forces. Adversary disposition, composition, strength, capabilities, and COA(s) as they affect
specific staff areas of concern.
c. Friendly Forces
(1) Friendly COA(s).
(2) Current status of resources.
(3) Current status of other resources.
(4) Comparison of requirements versus capabilities and recommended solutions.
(5) Key considerations (evaluation criteria) for COA supportability.
d. Assumptions
3. Analysis. Analyze each COA using key considerations (evaluation criteria) to determine advantages and dis-
advantages.
4. Comparison. Compare COA(s) using key considerations (evaluation criteria). Rank order COA(s) for each
key consideration. Visually support each comparison with a decision matrix.
5. Recommendations and Conclusions
a. Recommended COA based on the comparison (most supportable from specific staff perspective).
b. Issues, deficiencies, and risks with impact mitigations.
Figure G-1. Staff Estimate Format Sample.
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Marine Corps Planning Process G-3
1. Key Facts and Assumptions. Identify key facts and assumptions associated with the specific functional area.
2. Functional Units Available. List all units assigned to the MAGTF with the functional capability to include
known host nation and contracted support.
3. Computations. Focus on a worst case scenario. Break out all requirements. The category could be expressed
as classes of supply; field services; maintenance functions, such as maintenance support team support or recov-
ery; transportation types, such a breakbulk, Class III, or water; or explosive ordnance disposal support.
Total Total Excess
Category Requirements Capabilities Shortfall Capability Potential Solutions
4. Analysis
a. Issues. Excess capacity or shortfall. Indicate all shortfall and excess capabilities.
b. Vulnerabilities/Risks. Indicate how any shortfalls can impact the outcome of the MAGTF mission. Be
accurate, concise, and direct.
c. Recommendations. Indicate how you think the LCE can either reallocate internal CSS assets, find a way
to reduce requirements, or increase capacity to counter shortfalls. Also, recommend how to best make use of
idle CSS assets.
Figure G-2. Functional Staff Estimate Format Sample.
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G-4 MCWP 5-1
CLASSIFICATION
Copy No. __ of __ copies
OFFICIAL DESIGNATION OF COMMAND
PLACE OF ISSUE
Date-time group
Message reference number
ESTIMATE OF SUPPORTABILITY (U)
(U) REFERENCES: (a) Maps: ________ 1:50,000 AMES Series, ________, Sheets ________, ________ and ________.
1. ( ) Mission
a. ( ) Basic Mission. List the issuing headquarters’ mission. If this is a running estimate early in the planning process, the mission
statement may not be completed. In this case, the issuing headquarters identifies what actions they need to take as part of the HHQ
COA(s).
b. ( ) Previous Decisions
(1) ( ) List in detail each essential/critical task already assigned to the issuing headquarters.
(2) ( ) These essential/critical tasks should contribute to the current HHQ COA(s) under consideration that the supportability esti-
mate will address.
2. ( ) Situation and Considerations
a. ( ) Adversary
(1) ( ) Present disposition of major elements. (See intelligence estimate.)
(2) ( ) Capabilities. (See intelligence estimate)
b. ( ) Population. Disposition of the population, such as attitudes toward the insurgents, host nation, and allied or coalition forces.
c. ( ) Own Forces
(1) ( ) Present disposition of the issuing headquarters’ major subelements.
(2) ( ) Probable tactical developments.
(a) ( ) Summarize intended actions requried to support each COA.
(b) ( ) Estimate timelines when assigned tasks (or envisioned actions) are expected to be achieved under each COA currently
being considered, as in the example below:
OBJECTIVE A OBJECTIVE B
COA #1 D-day D-day
COA #2 D+2 D+1
(3) ( ) Own COAs.
(a) ( ) COA #1. Describe this COA in general terms (enough to give an overall picture and to distinguish it from the other
COA[s]). If COAs are still in development, describe the distinguishing features. For example, “This COA will have an
amphibious assault with additional deep fires.”
(b) ( ) COA #2 (and subsequent COAs). Describe this COA in general terms (enough to give an overall picture and to distin-
guish it from the other COA[s]).
(c) ( ) Describe the characteristics of the geographic area in which the operation is to be conducted. The issuing headquarters
can also provide cultural considerations or other aspects of the area that may impact operations. Readers may be referred to the
intelligence estimate.
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CLASSIFICATION
Figure G-3. Estimate of Supportability Format Sample.
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Marine Corps Planning Process G-5
CLASSIFICATION
d. Assumptions
(1) ( ) List all assumptions regarding the adversary, friendly, and population situation.
(2) ( ) List assumptions about adversary and friendly capabilities.
(3) ( ) List assumptions about adversary and population intentions.
e. ( ) Special Factors. List any special aspects of the issuing headquarters’ situation that could affect resource allocation.
3. ( ) COA Analysis
a. ( ) The issuing headquarters rank orders the COA available to HHQ according to the ability of the issuing headquarters to support
them.
b. ( ) Concept of Employment. The issuing headquarters describes its concept of employment under each of the HHQ COA(s).
c. ( ) Adversary Situation and Capabilities. The issuing headquarters describes how the enemy situation and enemy capabilities might
affect its ability to support each or any of the HHQ COA(s).
d. ( ) Requirement for Support. The issuing headquarters explains how and to what degree it can support each of the HHQ COA(s). In
order for the ACE or LCE to determine its ability to support MAGTF COAs, it must be aware of the requirements for all other ele-
ments of the MAGTF concurrently.
e. ( ) Topography. The issuing headquarters describes how the topography might affect its ability to support each or any of the HHQ
COA(s).
f. ( ) Weather. The issuing headquarters describes how the weather might affect its ability to support each or any of the HHQ COA(s).
g. ( ) Observation and Surveillance. The issuing headquarters describes how the observation and surveillance issues might affects its
ability to support each or any of the HHQ COA(s).
h. ( ) Communications Requirements. The issuing headquarters describes how the communications issues might affect its ability to
support each or any of the HHQ COA(s).
i. ( ) Logistics. The issuing headquarters describes how the logistic issues might affect its ability to support each or any of the HHQ
COA(s).
j. ( ) Hydrographic Conditions. The issuing headquarters describes how the hydrographic issues might affect its ability to support each
or any of the HHQ COA(s) during amphibious operations.
4. ( ) Evaluation
a. ( ) COA #1
(1) ( ) Advantages
(a) ( ) List the advantages for this COA.
(b) ( ) These advantages are specific to the issuing headquarters, not necessarily to the force as a whole.
(2) ( ) Disadvantages
(a) ( ) List the disadvantages for this COA.
(b) ( ) These disadvantages are specific to the issuing headquarters, not necessarily to the force as a whole.
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Figure G-3. Estimate of Supportability Format Sample. (Continued)
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G-6 MCWP 5-1
CLASSIFICATION
b. ( ) COA #2
(1) ( ) Advantages
(2) ( ) Disadvantages
5. ( ) Conclusions
a. ( ) The issuing headquarters identifies the preferred COA while summarizing the reasons for its choice.
b. ( ) The issuing headquarters rank orders any other COAs adding the rationale for their order.
c. ( ) The issuing headquarters may also recommend changes to one or more of the COA(s) in this and subsequent paragraphs, based
on its ability to furnish support.
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CLASSIFICATION
Figure G-3. Estimate of Supportability Format Sample. (Continued)