In reconnaissance planning, METT-TC components include Mission, Enemy, Terrain and Weather, Time, and Civil Considerations. Which of the following options lists these components correctly?

• A. Mission, Enemy, Terrain and Weather, Time, Civil Considerations.
• B. Mission, Civil Considerations, Terrain and Weather, Time, Enemy.
• C. Mission, Enemy, Civil Considerations, Time, Terrain and Weather.
• D. Mission, Enemy, Terrain and Weather, Civil Considerations, Time.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is the order and content of METT-TC used in reconnaissance planning. METT-TC stands for Mission, Enemy, Terrain and Weather, Time, Civil Considerations, and the plan follows that exact sequence. Start with the mission to anchor what you’re trying to accomplish, then assess the enemy to understand threats and capabilities, then evaluate the terrain and weather to know how the environment will affect movement, concealment, and opportunities, followed by the time factor to plan tempo and sequencing, and finally consider civil factors that can influence safety, information needs, and legitimacy. This order preserves the logical flow planners use to build a complete operational picture, ensuring no factor is considered out of place. Other options mix up these elements or place Civil Considerations earlier, which disrupts the standard decision-making sequence and can hide important interdependencies, like how civil factors might constrain timing or how terrain affects civilian access and safety.