Which of the following is NOT a fundamental factor in METT-TC?

• A. Civil considerations
• B. Time
• C. Terrain/Weather
• D. Aircraft maintenance schedules

Answer: (D)

METT-TC is a decision-making framework used to analyze an operation from five angles: Mission, Enemy, Terrain and Weather, Time, and Civil considerations. Each element helps you anticipate how the environment and constraints will shape planning and execution. Aircraft maintenance schedules don’t belong to that framework; they’re a logistics/sustainment issue that affects overall readiness, not the immediate environmental and operational factors you weigh in METT-TC. So while maintenance matters for keeping assets ready, it isn’t a fundamental METT-TC factor. The other items—civil considerations, terrain/weather, and time—are all core parts of METT-TC.