What does the design phase in JOPP primarily focus on?

The design phase in the Joint Operational Planning Process (JOPP) primarily focuses on generating feasible operational concepts. This phase is essential as it lays the groundwork for how a mission will be executed. During this phase, planners translate strategic guidance and military objectives into a concrete plan that outlines the operational approach, determining how forces will be employed to achieve specified outcomes.

Creating feasible operational concepts involves assessing the operational environment, understanding the capabilities and limitations of available forces, and ensuring that multiple courses of action are considered. This allows for the identification of the most effective way to achieve the desired end state while also anticipating and mitigating potential challenges and risks.

While resource allocation strategies, training simulations, and communication methods are important components of the overall planning and execution framework, they are not the primary focus of the design phase. Resource allocation comes into play later in the planning process as planners finalize the detailed aspects of the operation, training simulations are typically addressed during preparation, and communication methods are crucial for execution but are not the core concern of the design phase itself.