What is meant by 'end state' in a targeting cycle?

• A. The initial target selection.
• B. The desired condition after engagement achieves the commander's objectives.
• C. The end of the fiscal year.
• D. The weapons system's maintenance state.

Answer: (B)

In targeting, the end state is the intended battlefield condition once actions have achieved the commander's objectives. It describes what the environment should look like and what effects must be in place after the engagement to consider the mission successful. This future condition guides what you target, how you sequence ops, and how you measure success.

For example, if the objective is to restore freedom of movement in a corridor, the end state would be that the corridor is open and protected, with enemy interference degraded to an acceptable level. This focuses on the desired effects after execution, not on which target you pick first or on unrelated things like maintenance status or the fiscal year timeline. The end state centers on the post-engagement condition that fulfills the commander's intent.