How do centers of gravity differ from decisive points in LSCO planning?

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In LSCO planning, centers of gravity are the enemy’s primary sources of power—the capabilities, institutions, or relationships that give them the ability to wage war. The aim is to identify and disrupt or degrade these sources so the enemy can no longer sustain or generate combat power.

Decisive points, on the other hand, are specific places, times, or actions that, when seized, denied, or exploited, yield a disproportionately large effect on the campaign or battle. They are not chosen at random; they are selected because operating at or through these points creates favorable leverage, accelerates the achievement of your objectives, and helps you influence the enemy’s CoG.

So the difference is that centers of gravity indicate where the enemy’s power resides and must be targeted to sap their strength, while decisive points indicate where your actions can produce decisive effects—precisely where you apply effort to gain the most impact. The idea that centers of gravity are weak points and decisive points are random targets with little value misrepresents both concepts: CoG are about strength and disruption of it, and decisive points are carefully chosen leverage points with high tactical or operational value.