Military Programs ATP 5-19

Risk Management (RM)

The five-step risk management process used to identify, assess, and mitigate hazards across all Army operations.

What is RM?

Risk Management (RM) — formerly known as Composite Risk Management (CRM) — is the Army's primary process for identifying, assessing, and controlling risks arising from operational factors, and making decisions that balance risk cost with mission benefits. It applies to all Army operations, including combat, training, garrison activities, and off-duty time.

The Five Steps of RM

  1. Identify the hazards: What could go wrong? Consider mission, enemy, terrain, troops, time, and civil considerations (METT-TC).
  2. Assess the hazards: Determine the probability and severity of each hazard to establish a risk level.
  3. Develop controls and make risk decisions: Create measures to eliminate or reduce risk, and have the appropriate commander accept the residual risk.
  4. Implement controls: Put the controls into action. Communicate them clearly to all personnel.
  5. Supervise and evaluate: Monitor controls to ensure effectiveness and adjust as needed.

Risk Assessment Matrix & DD Form 2977

  • The primary form used for RM is DD Form 2977 (Deliberate Risk Assessment Worksheet, or DRAW). It uses a matrix to determine risk:
  • Severity levels: Catastrophic, Critical, Moderate, Negligible.
  • Probability levels: Frequent, Likely, Occasional, Seldom, Unlikely.
  • Risk levels: Extremely High (EH), High (H), Medium (M), Low (L).
  • Only the appropriate level of command can accept risk at corresponding levels.

Board Tips

Know the Doctrine: ATP 5-19. Know the Form: DD Form 2977 (DRAW). Be aware that 'CRM' is outdated and it is now just 'RM'. Know the exact doctrinal wording of Step 3 ('Develop controls AND make risk decisions'). Scenario Example: 'Your unit is conducting a road march in inclement weather — walk me through RM.' Answer by listing the 5 steps contextually, explicitly stating you would fill out a DD Form 2977, brief the controls to the Soldiers, and elevate the form to the Commander for signature if the residual risk requires it.