Applying Abstraction Techniques to Military Courses of Action

The number of options that can be analyzed in a given time limits the consideration of courses of action (COAs). Computers aid in this process, increasing computing power, equating to more COAs analyzed. However, the level of detail in each COA and the availability of computing power at the point of need limit this process. Identifying the salient features of the options—the features driving the differences between and impact of each COA—can be abstracted into a more straightforward form for easier comparisons and faster optimization with fewer resources. Improving the efficiency of COAs is crucial in military operations, where time and computing resources are constrained. This paper reviews the literature on abstraction techniques relevant to COA development and comparison and considers those techniques for applicability under the conditions of military operations.