Mission Command (ADP 6-0) Flashcards
Nature of military operations
Human Endeavors, in dynamic environments, designed to achieve a political purpose
What is the army’s operational concept for conducting operations as part of a joint team?
Unified land operations
What is the goal of unified land operations?
To achieve the commander’s end state by applying land power as part of a unified action
Strategic Roles that army forces support
Shape operational environments, prevent conflict, prevail in ground combat, consolidate gains
Describe the operational environment
The conditions, circumstances, and influences that affect the decisions of a commander
What is Mission Command?
The Army’s approach to subordinate decision making and decentralized execution
How does mission command support the Army’s operational concept of unified land operations?
Seizing, retaining, and exploiting the initiative
What helps manage uncertainty and enable necessary tempo?
Subordinate decision making
What principles enable successful mission command?
Competence, mutual trust, commander’s intent, mission orders, risk acceptance
Without it, decentralized execution is not possible
Shared understanding of the situation
Desired future conditions
The end state
Standard for issuing orders
Five paragraph format (Situation, Mission, Execution, Sustainment, Command and Signal)
What are orders?
Directives that emphasize the results to be attained
What is command and control?
The exercise of authority and direction by a commander over assigned forces
How does the Army use command and control?
Through the operations process
What is performed during the operations process?
Planning, Preparing, Executing, Continually assessing
Key elements of command
Authority, responsibility, decision making, leadership
Define control
Regulation of forces and functions to accomplish the mission with the commander’s intent
Key elements of control
Direction, Feedback, Information, Communication
Define a warfighting function
Group of tasks that commanders use to accomplish the mission and training objectives
Elements of combat power
Leadership, Information, Command and Control, Movement, Intelligence, Fires, Sustainment, Protection
What are the tasks of a commander?
Command Forces, Control operations, Drive the operations process, establish the command and control system
What is the arrangement of people, process, network, and command post?
Command and control system
How do commanders drive the operations process?
Understanding, visualizing, describing, leading, and assessing the situation
Operational Variables
PMESII-PT Political, Military, Economic, Social, Information, Infrastructure, Physical, Environment, Time
Mission Variables
METT-TC Mission, Enemy, Terrain, Troops Available, Time, Civil Consideration
Process of enabling knowledge to flow
Knowledge management
What do commanders consider when organizing for command and control?
The chain of command, Span of control, Unit Integrity, Degraded environments
What is a team?
A team is a group of individuals or organizations that work together towards a common goal.
How do staff members assist the commander?
Staff assists the Commander in the details of planning, preparing, executing, and assessing by conducting the operations process.
What are the principles that the commander is guided by using the Mission Command Philosophy?
- Build cohesive teams through mutual trust 2. Create shared understanding 3. Provide a clear commander’s intent 4. Exercise disciplined initiative 5. Use mission orders 6. Accept prudent risk
What are the 5 systems included in the mission command system?
- Personnel 2. Networks 3. Information systems 4. Processes and procedures 5. Facilities and equipment
What is mission command?
Mission command is 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.
What 3 ideas does mission command doctrine incorporate?
- The exercise of mission command 2. The mission command philosophy 3. The mission command war-fighting function
What should Commanders provide subordinates during Mission Command?
- Their intent 2. The purpose of the operation 3. The key tasks 4. The desired end state 5. Resources
What is mutual trust?
Shared confidence among commanders, subordinates, and partners
Where does mutual trust come from?
Successful shared experiences and training, usually gained incidental to operations but also deliberately developed by the commander
What are Unified Action Partners?
Those military forces, governmental and nongovernmental organizations, and elements of the private sector with whom Army forces plan, coordinate, synchronize, and integrate during the conduct of operations
What is unity of effort?
Unity of effort is coordination and cooperation toward common objectives, even if the participants are not necessarily part of the same command or organization—the product of successful unified action.
Why do Commanders use Collaboration?
- Establish human connections 2. Build trust 3. Create and maintain shared understanding and purpose
What is the commander’s intent?
The commander’s intent is a clear and concise expression of the purpose of the operation and the desired military end state that supports mission command, provides focus to the staff, and helps subordinate and supporting commanders act to achieve the commander’s desired results without further orders, even when the operation does not unfold as planned.
What does a well-crafted commander’s intent convey?
- A clear image of the operation’s purpose 2. Key tasks 3. Desired outcomes
What is disciplined initiative?
Action in the absence of orders, when existing orders no longer fit the situation, or when unforeseen opportunities or threats arise
When can Commanders or Soldiers deviate from Lawful Orders?
Only when they are unlawful, needlessly risk the lives of Soldiers, or no longer fit the situation
What are mission orders?
Directives that emphasize to subordinates the results to be attained, not how they are to achieve them.
What is prudent risk?
A deliberate exposure to potential injury or loss when the commander judges the outcome in terms of mission accomplishment as worth the cost
What is command?
The authority that a commander in the armed forces lawfully exercises over subordinates by virtue of rank or assignment.
What is the creative and skillful exercise of authority through timely decision-making and leadership called?
Art of command
What is leadership?
The process of influencing people by providing purpose, direction, and motivation to accomplish the mission and improve the organization.
What is authority?
Authority is the delegated power to judge, act, or command
What is control?
The regulation of forces and war fighting functions to accomplish the mission in accordance with the commander’s intent
What does communication build?
- Trust 2. Cooperation 3. Cohesion 4. Shared understanding
What is structure?
A defined organization that establishes relationships and guides interactions among elements
What ATTP provides doctrinal guidance for organizing Army command post operations and command and support relationships?
ATTP 5-0
What are the mission command warfighting function tasks?
Mutually supporting the commander, staff, and additional tasks
What is the mission command system?
The arrangement of personnel, networks, information systems, processes and procedures, and facilities and equipment that enable commanders to conduct operations
What personnel are key personnel dedicated to mission command?
Seconds in command, command sergeant majors, and staff
