Preparing to initiate a military aviation mission is always critical. Therefore various acronyms become helpful to the pilot. In the case of a prep before a pre-flight brief the word DAMCLAS helps the pilot get in the right frame of reference.
Decision-Making--use logical thinking in the context of the situation.
Assertive--willingness to actively participate.
Mission Analysis--make long-term contingencies, manage and allocate aircraft resources effectively.
Communication--accurately communicate and understand the situation.
Leadership--direct and coordinate necessary tasks.
Adaptability--alter a course of action in the light of contravening facts.
Situation Awareness--be aware of your situation in and outside of the airplane.
Check and review all necessary aircraft and technical publications. Insure that all pages are updated as appropriate. Check with flight-ops for any additional "gotchas." Review and validate ground, departure, en route and landing radio frequencies. Review and validate fuel plan. Review and validate any no-fly areas unless granted for overflight by governing authority. Review NORDO (No Radio) procedures.
Check with weather ops to understand the local, en-route way-point and landing situation at the intended destination if any. Plan for snap-vector contingencies in the event that a weather re-direct is indicated.
After updating all necessary plan information, contact ops and/or and the commercial FSS to activate the mission's flight plan.
Review and understand any current Notices to Airman (NOTAM's). These notices relate to any airborne or ground-based hazard.
Take Off and Landing information. This information relates to weight/balance calculations, expected take-off and landing fuel state, and any additional safety-of-flight issues.
Review and validate Standard Instrument Departure procedures and notices (SIDs), Descent Procedures and notices (DPs), Standard Terminal Automatic Replacement Systems and notices (STARs), and Instrument Approach Procedures and notices (IAPs).