Political, ideological, or economic competition may result in foreseen or unforeseen conflicts. In order to solve conflict, sometimes military intervention is required. Military operations, therefore, are an essential tool that can help foster peace, thwart future attacks, and protect the lives of innocent civilians home and abroad. Army commanders rely on the application of mission command when undertaking military operations. Therefore, it is imperative to develop an understanding of what mission command entails. As a component of military operations, mission command allows conflict resolution through the principles of competence, mutual trust, shared understanding, commander’s intent, mission orders, disciplined initiative, and risk acceptance. The employment of command and control during mission command ensures its effectiveness, while soldiers are empowered by the utilization of critical thinking, decision-making, and judgment abilities.
The Relationship between Military Operations and Mission Command
Armies are deployed based on the nature and capabilities of enemy threats. These forces perform operations primarily to protect vital national interests. The US army conducts military operations to preserve the constitutional and democratic system of national administration that citizens enjoy today. Armies are able to integrate a wide range of military operations in their activities, some of which are performed in conjunction with key allies. Military operations, therefore, assist countries in the resolution of interstate or regional conflicts.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
The nature of military operations is that they involve human endeavors, are undertaken under indefinite and dynamic environments, and that they are intended to achieve political goals. The United States Army has over the years been actively involved in various military interventions both at home and overseas. Much recently, the war on terror has gained phenomenal popularity owing to the complexities involved, especially after the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in 2001. Back then, President George Bush had ordered the "deployment of various combat-equipped and combat support forces" to specific countries in the "Central and Pacific command areas of operations" (Torreon & Plagakis, 2019, p. 23). The aim was to prevent further terrorist attacks on United States citizens by defeating and deterring terrorist networks. In the process, mission command as a component of military operations helped US soldiers to infiltrate rival strongholds and neutralize enemy forces.
Mission command can be defined as the “exercise of authority and direction by the commander using mission orders to enable disciplined initiative within the commander's intent to empower agile and adaptive leaders in the conduct of unified land operations” (Sharpe & Creviston, 2013, p. 1). Mission command primarily pertains the trust that commanders have for their subordinates to design, synchronize, and execute adaptable decisions, while at the same time maintain the required levels of discipline. Commanders will measure performance against subordinate leaders’ ability to follow direct orders while at the same time employing personal creativity in the process, regardless of what capacity they may serve in. It is also important to understand that Army commanders and their junior leaders all face complex situations in their line of duty. For example, during active combat situations, I have learned that spontaneity and courage are essential. Therefore, I understand that the nature of mission command is such that all members involved have to make bold and conclusive choices within the commander’s intent, even when faced with adverse situations.
Understanding the Principles of Mission Command
To understand the nature of mission command, a grasp of the principles associated with the concept is paramount. According to ADP 6-0 (2019, p. 1-8), mission command is based on the principles of “competence, mutual trust, shared understanding, commander’s intent, mission orders, disciplined initiative, and risk acceptance.” These principles imply that, as a leader in the US Army, I have to be competent in that I should be prepared both physically and mentally for all situations. From my training and education, I understand that my commander expects me to continuously improve myself both for personal and collective development. I believe that being prepared will heighten the levels of confidence in my abilities, which will enable me to effectively contribute to mission command.
Mutual trust among colleagues is essential for the success of missions. I am also aware that trust building is a continuous process that stems from the presence of shared experiences. For instance, during active combat, the people that I expect to develop the highest levels of trust with are the members within my platoon. This is because with a platoon being the smallest maneuver element in the Army, it is the most likely to provide soldiers with higher chances of trust building compared to other maneuver elements like battalions and companies. In the absence of trust among colleagues, there is an automatic loss of confidence in mission command.
Mutual trust also fosters shared understanding among colleagues. In essence, members of the US Army operate as a team. The key characteristic of these teams is that the members actively work towards the realization of common goals. The training and ideals instilled, therefore, are based on trusting one another. This implies that soldiers have a shared view of their mission and the operating environments, regardless of rank. In my line of duty, I understand that a common understanding creates an effective working environment. Hence, when soldiers possess divided opinions, enemy forces may find it easy to orchestrate attack missions.
Additionally, I have learned that mission command requires flawless execution of commanders’ intents. In definition, the commander’s intent is what is needed to be done to achieve mission success. Even in scenarios where missions do not go according to plan, it is important that all subordinates undertake the key tasks ordered by their commander. If the elements of competence, mutual trust, and shared understanding are in place, then creativity may be used to follow the commanders’ orders. For instance, if the commander wants his troops to attack a terrorist camp from the east, the troops should follow these direct orders. But, in a case where they encounter enemy forces in the process, they may be creative and take the camp from another direction, as long as the mission objective is completed. Therefore, the commander’s intent also closely aligns with mission orders.
Mission orders not only make it possible for subordinates to better understand the commander's intent, but they also provide them the freedom needed to carry out a mission. That freedom results from clear orders that define the left and right limits while still allowing flexibility to be creative. Before and during the mission, orders can be communicated verbally, by signal, or in writing. Commanders will also often formulate various hand or verbal signals that enable them to communicate with their subordinates on the battlefield. As a leader supporting mission command, it is imperative that I ensure my soldiers are competent in and have a shared understanding of the meaning of all mission orders and of each signal.
For situations where creativity and initiative are required, mission command is based on the principles of disciplined initiative and risk acceptance. As a member of the Army, I understand that sometimes my superiors will not always be around to give direct orders. However, I should always aim to take the best course of action. Additionally, the nature of actions that I choose to perform should be such that I can take responsibility thereafter. Sometimes, the best courses of action are those that pose the highest risks. In such situations, the preliminary steps should be to accept the nature of the situation and to acknowledge that by working towards risk mitigation, I will maneuver through the process. US Army training has taught me to trust my decisions, to become bold and composed, and to actively search for risk mitigation strategies.
The Importance of Command and Control in Mission Command
Command and control are the two concepts that make mission command plans a success. That is, command and control are fundamental aspects of military operations. ADP 6-0 (2019) alludes that they are the most important components of mission command because they lay the groundwork for the coordination of mission objectives, enemy neutralization, and supply delivery.
In military terms, I have learned that command and control are interrelated and mission accomplishment is unachievable if one is nonexistent. ADP 6-0 (2019, p. 1-17) defines command as “the authority that a commander in the armed forces lawfully exercises over subordinates by virtue of rank or assignment.” From my understanding, a commander is in charge of giving orders to his or her subordinates. Also, the commands given by the commander are of utmost importance.
Command encompasses the elements of leadership, decision-making, authority, and responsibility. Commanders are expected to exude authority over their subordinates, be responsible for their actions, make the most desirable decisions, and lead their subordinates in the line of duty. Subordinates can learn from the elements of command that the commander is the utmost authority and, therefore, should be respected. It also means that, although authority may be delegated, the commander takes responsibility for the performance of subordinates. For instance, if a subordinate is directly responsible for the failure of a mission, the commander is expected to take ultimate responsibility before further disciplinary action is taken. Additionally, the nature of command to the subordinate is such that leadership decisions from the commander are only meant to give purpose and direction and not to demean. Sometimes, as a subordinate, I may feel dejected after receiving direct commands from my superior in a way that may negatively affect my self-esteem. Nevertheless, my training has taught me that the commander’s decisions are meant to protect subordinates, and therefore have their best interests at heart.
Control alludes to how the various forces and functions of the Army are synchronized and structured to stay in line with the commander’s requirements. Within mission command, commanders are allowed access to tools such as the mission command system that assists them in exercising command and control. Additionally, subordinates assist the commander in accomplishing mission control by following commands and communicating efficiently within units. An example of a situation where command and control can be used on the battlefield is when the commander expects subordinates to perform a reconnaissance mission. Because control is a scientific function of command, it can be used in such a situation to assess the strengths and weaknesses of an enemy. Commanders can communicate their intents to subordinates within different platoons. In the process, command control will enable subordinates to understand their specific dos and don’ts. One platoon may be in charge of carrying out patrols, while another may be tasked with the setting up covert observation posts. Control enables commanders to properly delegate duties to their subordinates. In the absence of control, activities become disorganized and this reduces mission effectiveness.
Critical Thinking, Making Decisions, and Judgment in Mission Command
It is important to employ one’s abilities in thinking, making decisions, and making judgments when required to. Critical thinking involves in-depth analysis of a situation while also considering the correctness or wrongness of one's intended actions. In the line of duty, a good critical thinker is one who plays to an enemy's weaknesses by thinking ahead and weighing all the possible alternatives. For example, in the event of an ambush by enemy troops, a good critical thinker is one who will assess the damage already done and prevent further loss by utilizing the tools and resources available. Ideally, a critical thinker is one who thinks outside the box to avoid the obvious.
The concept of analytical decision-making goes hand-in-hand with critical and creative thinking. This process involves weighing possible solutions and choosing the best course of action. In the aforementioned example, a commander is forced to reevaluate their options in the case of an ambush. The commander may choose to retreat or reorganize subordinates for a retaliatory attack based on his or her assessment. Although it may take time to come up with an ideal solution to the problem, the analysis part of decision-making ensures that the best possible course of action is used.
Thirdly, commanders have to identify possible risks, mitigate the risk, and accept the levels of risk before they can make a timely judgment. In the course of my training, I have learned that the nature of mission command is such that the presence of risk is normal. As such, risk has to be identified through critical thinking and also by applying intuitive decision-making to make the best judgment. As mentioned above, commanders and their subordinates must have trust in their own and their colleagues’ actions. Therefore, I have learned that not only is it paramount to exercise judgment, but also to know that individual judgments can affect other team members.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this study of mission command has allowed me to learn and ponder
on
the application of various concepts and principles. Mission command encompasses the application of authority from the commander by the subordinates through disciplined, agile, and unified decision making. As a process, mission command is anchored to the principles of competence, mutual trust, shared understanding, commander’s intent, mission orders, disciplined initiative, and risk acceptance. I have also learned that military operations are one way through which states can solve conflict or drive their political agendas. Additionally, mission command requires the command and control for it to become a success. Finally, I have learned that commanders and their subordinates are required to utilize the concepts of creative and critical thinking, decision-making, and judgment to make the execution of mission command achievable. In the future, I am confident that the knowledge acquired through the mission command coursework will allow me to become a better protector of the ideals that my country stands for.
References
ADP 6-0. (2019). Mission Command: Command and Control of Army Forces (6-0). Washington, DC: Department of the Army.
Sharpe, J. D., & Creviston, T. E. (2013, July 10). Understanding mission command. Retrieved from https://www.army.mil/article/106872/understanding_mission_command
Torreon, B. S., & Plagakis, S. (2019). Instances of use of United States Armed Forces abroad, 1798-2019 (7-5700). Retrieved from Congressional Research Service website: https://fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R42738.pdf
