Describe the overall mission or task and when it happens.
DD 2977: Deliberate Risk Assessment Worksheet (DRAW)
The NOV 2024 DRAW: mission, preparer, a hazard grid (subtask, hazard, initial risk, control, how/who, residual risk), overall risk, approval, and reviews.
Every block on the DD Form 2977
Laid out block for block like the official DELIBERATE RISK ASSESSMENT WORKSHEET (NOV 2024 edition), with the instruction for each block. Name, rank, and unit prefill from your service profile.
Form details
- 1Mission/Task Description and Execution Date(s)
- 2Date Prepared
- 3aPrepared By: Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)
- 3bRank/Grade
- 3cDuty Title/Position
- 3dUnit
- 3eWork Email
- 3fTelephone (DSN, Commercial (Include Area Code))
- 3gUIC/CIN (as required)
- 3hTraining Support/Lesson Plan or OPORD (as required)
- 4–9Subtask, Hazard, Initial Risk, Control, How/Who, Residual Risk
One row per hazard. Risk levels: EH, H, M, L from the matrix. Probability: A Frequent, B Likely, C Occasional, D Seldom, E Unlikely. Severity: I Catastrophic, II Critical, III Moderate, IV Negligible. Add rows for as many subtasks as the mission has.
- 10Overall Residual Risk Level (All controls implemented)
Equal to or higher than the highest residual risk in block 9.
- 11Overall Supervision Plan and Recommended Course of Action
Who supervises which controls, at what level, and your recommendation (approve or disapprove) to the decision authority.
- 12Approval or Disapproval of Mission or Task
The risk approval authority decides based on the controls, the residual risk, and the supervision plan.
- 12aName (Last, First, Middle Initial)
- 12bRank/Grade
- 12cDuty Title/Position
- 12dSignature
- 12eAdditional Guidance
- 13Risk Assessment Review (Required when assessment applies to ongoing operations or activities)
Review regularly during ongoing operations. If residual risk rises above the approved level, stop until the right authority approves continuing.
- 14Feedback and Lessons Learned
How well each control worked, and any new or revised controls for next time.
- 15Additional Comments or Remarks
Draft / worksheet aid. Prepare it here, then transcribe into The signed DD 2977 filed with the training plan, CONOP, or OPORD, briefed to and signed by the risk approval authority. This is not an official submission. Check it against the current official DD Form 2977 before use.
How to fill out the DD Form 2977
The DoD worksheet for a deliberate risk assessment. It shows the hazards in each part of a mission, how you'll control them, the risk that's left, and the leader who accepted that risk. When: For any training event or operation with hazards above everyday routine: ranges, convoys, water or cold-weather training, airborne or air-assault operations, rappelling, live fire, and PT events in extreme heat. Build it during planning, before the approval brief.
Step by step
- Block 1: describe the mission and its execution dates. Block 3: who prepared it and how to reach them.
- Break the mission into subtasks (block 4), and list every hazard in each (block 5).
- Rate initial risk with the matrix: probability (A frequent to E unlikely) × severity (I catastrophic to IV negligible) = EH, H, M, or L.
- For each hazard, write a specific control (7) and how it's implemented and by whom (8), then rate the residual risk (9).
- Block 10: the overall residual risk equals the highest residual risk in block 9 (never lower).
- Block 11: the supervision plan and your recommendation. Brief the approval authority at the level required for that risk (block 12).
- Review it during the event (13) and record lessons learned afterward (14).
What a strong one looks like
- Controls must be actions, not intentions: "Two certified belayers per lane, checked by the OIC before each descent" beats "Be safe on the tower".
- Name a person or position in the Who column for every control.
- Match the approval authority to the overall residual risk under your Service's risk matrix (e.g., in the Army, higher risk levels need a more senior approver).
- Reuse a good DRAW next time, but re-validate it against current weather, people, and equipment.
Common mistakes
- Residual risk lower than the controls can realistically achieve.
- Overall risk lower than the highest line in block 9.
- Generic hazards ("injury") instead of specific ones ("heat injury during 12-mile ruck, WBGT forecast 88°F").
- Having it signed by someone below the required approval level.
Related Training & Readiness worksheets
Fill, save & export this worksheetPrefilled from your profile · autosaves to your account · export to PDF. Free to preview, Pro to save & export.
Open it in the toolkit