In the Joint Targeting Cycle, what is the meaning of the End State?

• A. The desired final condition of the operation
• B. The target's location
• C. The weather pattern
• D. The initial assessment

Answer: (A)

The End State is the desired final condition of the operation. It describes what success looks like—how the environment, capabilities, and conditions should look once the mission objectives are achieved—and provides the benchmark used to guide targeting decisions and assess when the operation is complete. It informs what effects you must create and sustain, and it drives how you plan and sequence actions to reach that outcome. It’s not a specific target location, nor the weather, nor the initial assessment—the End State is about the expected end condition you’re aiming to produce.