During JOPP, which step involves comparing potential courses of action to select the best option?

• A. COA Development
• B. COA Analysis
• C. COA Comparison
• D. COA Approval

Answer: (C)

In JOPP, the step that brings multiple potential courses of action together to decide which one best fits the mission is the COA Comparison. After developing several COAs, planners analyze and weigh them against evaluation criteria—feasibility, acceptability, suitability, risks, costs, and time—to see how each option stacks up relative to the others. This side-by-side assessment helps identify the COA that offers the best balance of achieving objectives while minimizing risk and resource use. COA Analysis dives into evaluating each option in detail, but the actual selection happens during the comparison, where options are ranked or scored to yield a recommended COA for approval. The next step, COA Approval, is about authorizing that chosen COA to move forward.