Which of the following is a key output of mission analysis in the joint planning process?

A key output of mission analysis in the joint planning process is the development of problem statements. During mission analysis, planners assess the operational environment, identify significant issues, and articulate them clearly. This process involves breaking down the mission into its constituent parts, understanding the requirements, constraints, and the overall context in which the operation will occur.

Problem statements serve to clarify the specific challenges that need to be addressed and provide a focused framework for further planning. They facilitate a shared understanding among all stakeholders about the core issues that must be mitigated to achieve mission objectives. This clarity is essential for effective decision-making and prioritization in subsequent phases of planning.

While operational readiness, threat assessments, and operational orders are critical elements of the broader planning process, they are not direct outputs of the mission analysis phase. Operational readiness measures the preparedness of forces, threat assessments pertain to understanding potential adversaries, and operational orders are specific directives that arise later in the planning process once the analysis has been synthesized into actionable plans. Thus, the formulation of problem statements accurately encapsulates the principal outcome of mission analysis within the joint planning framework.