METT-TC stands for which elements in Army planning?

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

Answer: (D)

METT-TC is a planning framework used to analyze factors that shape how a mission is carried out. The elements shown reflect the core factors you consider: Mission, Enemy, Terrain and Weather, Time, and Civil Considerations. Terrain and Weather are combined because they interact in real ways—how the ground layout, elevations, and obstacles interact with wind, visibility, precipitation, and temperature directly affects movement, concealment, and tempo. Treating them as a single factor captures that interdependence and keeps the planning focus on how conditions on the ground and in the air influence what you can and cannot do.

If you separate Terrain and Weather, you miss that interaction, since terrain alone doesn’t tell you how weather will affect visibility and mobility, and weather alone doesn’t describe the terrain features that shape routes and cover. The option that lists Terrain and Weather together, rather than as separate items or with weather alone, best aligns with how planners assess the environment. The remaining factors—Mission, Enemy, Time, and Civil Considerations—remain essential parts of the analysis.