Mission Command
Encyclopedia
Mission Command is a style of military command, derived from the Prussian-pioneered Mission-type tactics
doctrine, promoting relatively decentralised subsidiarity
of command, freedom and speed of action, and initiative, within certain constraints. Subordinates, understanding the commander's intentions, their own missions and the context of those missions, are told what effect they are to achieve and the reason why it needs to be achieved. They then decide within their delegated freedom of action how best to achieve their missions. Mission Command is closely related to civilian management concept of empowerment
. It is advocated, but not always used by the Chain of command
in the United States
, Canadian, Dutch and the British Army
.
Mission-type tactics
Mission-type tactics , have been a central component of the tactics of German armed forces since the 19th century. The term Auftragstaktik was coined by opponents of the development of mission-type tactics...
doctrine, promoting relatively decentralised subsidiarity
Subsidiarity
Subsidiarity is an organizing principle that matters ought to be handled by the smallest, lowest or least centralized competent authority. The Oxford English Dictionary defines subsidiarity as the idea that a central authority should have a subsidiary function, performing only those tasks which...
of command, freedom and speed of action, and initiative, within certain constraints. Subordinates, understanding the commander's intentions, their own missions and the context of those missions, are told what effect they are to achieve and the reason why it needs to be achieved. They then decide within their delegated freedom of action how best to achieve their missions. Mission Command is closely related to civilian management concept of empowerment
Empowerment
Empowerment refers to increasing the spiritual, political, social, racial, educational, gender or economic strength of individuals and communities...
. It is advocated, but not always used by the Chain of command
Chain of Command
Chain of Command may refer to:* Chain of command, in a military context, the line of authority and responsibility along which orders are passed* "Chain of Command" , the fifth episode of the first season of Beast Wars...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Canadian, Dutch and the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
.