Which of the following is NOT a key step of the Joint Operations Planning Process (JOPP) relevant to MDO?

• A. Initiation
• B. Mission analysis
• C. COA development
• D. Risk assessment (Not a key step)

Answer: (D)

JOPP is a structured sequence designed to translate guidance into an executable plan, and in multi-domain operations that planning spans across air, land, sea, space, cyber, and information domains. The steps that are formally named in this process include initiating the planning effort, conducting mission analysis to define the problem and the operational environment, developing multiple courses of action, analyzing and comparing those COAs, developing the chosen plan or order, and then executing and assessing the plan. Risk considerations are addressed throughout planning but are not listed as a separate named step in JOPP; instead risk assessment and mitigation are integrated into mission analysis and COA evaluation and across the planning activities. In the context of MDO, it’s essential to assess risks across domains as the plan evolves, but the framework still treats risk management as an ongoing thread rather than a distinct step. Therefore, the option describing risk assessment as a separate step is not a formal JOPP step, even though risk work happens continuously.