Transcript Missions

MISSION COMMAND
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Doctrine - Summary
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Fighting power – physical, moral and
conceptual components
Manoeuvrist Approach - with its
implications for:
 Conduct of operations
 Command
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Manoeuvrist Approach
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Observation
Action
Orientation
Decision
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Command Philosophy
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Timely decision-making
Understanding higher commander’s intent
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Command Philosophy
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Timely decision-making
Understanding higher commander’s intent
Responsibility to fulfil that intention:
 Common doctrine
 Mutual trust
 Obedience
 Initiative
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Command Philosophy
(Tenets)
Principles
MISSION
COMMAND
Practice
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Principles of Mission Command
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Unity of effort
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Achieving Unity of Effort
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The Commander’s Intent
Main and Supporting Efforts
Mission Statements
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Orders Format
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Situation
 En Forces
 Fr Forces
 Atts and Dets
Mission
Execution
 Concept of Ops
 Intent
 Scheme of Manoeuvre
 Main Effort
 Subordinates’ missions
 Co-ordinating instructions
Service Support
Command & Signal
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Orders Format
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Situation
 En Forces
 Fr Forces
 Atts and Dets
Mission
Execution
 Concept of Ops
 Intent
 Scheme of Manoeuvre
 Main Effort
 Subordinates’ missions
 Co-ordinating instructions
Service Support
Command & Signal
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Intent
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“…One part of the order I did, however, draft
myself - the intention. It is usually the shortest of
all paragraphs, but it is always the most important,
because it states - or it should - just what the
commander intends to achieve.
It is the one overriding expression of will by
which every action by every commander and
soldier in the army must be dominated.”
Defeat Into Victory
Field Marshal Slim 1944
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Commander’s Intent - Overview
A succinct summary of how he proposes to
achieve his purpose - articulated through
effects, so subordinates understand the links
between Main and Supporting Efforts. Also a
description of how he thinks achieving his task
will meet his given purpose (his unique
contribution to his superior’s intent)
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Commander’s Intent - Overview
A succinct summary of how he proposes to
achieve his purpose - articulated through
effects, so subordinates understand the links
between Main and Supporting Efforts. Also a
description of how he thinks achieving his task
will meet his given purpose (his unique
contribution to his superior’s intent)
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Orders Format
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Situation
 En Forces
 Fr Forces
 Atts and Dets
Mission
Execution
 Concept of Ops
 Intent
 Scheme of manoeuvre
 Main Effort
 Subordinates’ missions
 Co-ordinating instructions
Service Support
Command & Signal
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Orders Format
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Situation
 En Forces
 Fr Forces
 Atts and Dets
Mission
Execution
 Concept of Ops
 Intent
 Scheme of manoeuvre
 Main Effort
 Subordinates’ missions
 Co-ordinating instructions
Service Support
Command & Signal
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Main Effort
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Main Effort
The activity which the commander
considers crucial to the success of his
mission at that time.
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Orders Format
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Situation
 En Forces
 Fr Forces
 Atts and Dets
Mission
Execution
 Concept of Ops
 Intent
 Scheme of manoeuvre
 Main Effort
 Subordinates’ missions
 Co-ordinating instructions
Service Support
Command & Signal
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Orders Format
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Situation
 En Forces
 Fr Forces
 Atts and Dets
Mission
Execution
 Concept of Ops
 Intent
 Scheme of
manoeuvre
 Main Effort
 Subordinates’ Missions
 Subordinates’ missions
 Co-ordinating instructions
Service Support
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Command & Signal
Mission Statements
Task(s) + Purpose
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Caesar
Maximus
Archers &
artillery
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Roman
Infantry
Roman
Cavalry
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Mission Statements
Own Mission:
Task(s) + Purpose
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Mission Statements
Own Mission:
Task(s) + Purpose
Subordinate 1:
Task +
Purpose
Subordinate 2:
Task +
Purpose
Subordinate 3:
Task +
Purpose
The missions assigned to subordinates, together, fulfil the
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mission assigned to the commander.
There is a
common thread to
the subordinates’
purposes, so that
when taken
together they fulfil
the Commander’s
mission
Subordinate 1:
Task +
Purpose
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Mission Statements
Own Mission: Task
+ Purpose
Subordinate 2:
Task +
Purpose
Subordinate 3:
Task +
Purpose
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T: pacify the German tribes
Caesar
P: bring peace to the
Empire’s northern borders
T: defeat militant
German tribes
Maximus
Supporting
Effort
Archers &
artillery
T: force German
forces out of the
woods
P: enable infantry to
engage the enemy in
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the open
P: bring peace to the
northern borders
Supporting
Roman Effort
Main
Effort
Roman
Infantry
Cavalry
T: fix enemy forces in
the open
P: enable Cavalry, on
the main effort, to
attack the enemy from
the rear
T: kill German tribal
leader and his
bodyguard
P: cause the
culmination of
the
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militant tribes
Achieving Unity of Effort
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The Commander’s Intent
Main and Supporting Efforts
Mission Statements
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Maximus’ Orders to his Legions
(1)
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Mission: defeat militant German tribes in
order to bring peace to the northern borders
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Maximus’ Orders to his Legions
(1)
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Mission: defeat militant German tribes in order
to bring peace to the northern borders
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Intent: We will force the enemy out of the
forest so we can fix him in the open. Once he
is fixed, we will surprise him by an attack in the
rear, striking to destroy his leadership - the
decisive element of the operation. Once his
leadership is destroyed, I believe we will break
the will of the German tribes, thus eventually
bring peace to the Northern borders
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Maximus’ Orders to his Legions
(2)
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Main Effort: killing of enemy leadership by the
cavalry
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Maximus’ Orders to his Legions
(2)
Main Effort: killing of enemy leadership by the
cavalry
 Scheme of Manoeuvre: Cavalry preparatory
move to FUP in cover, signal once in position.
Artillery and archers then force enemy out of the
forest using fire. Infantry advance into open
ground, to lure the enemy further into the open,
and then fix him. Cavalry then strike from the
forest into the enemy’s rear, gaining shock and
surprise, to kill the enemy leadership. Once
enemy is reduced to a disorganised rabble,
massacre as many as possible. Enslave the rest.
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Maximus’ Orders to his Legions
(3)
Subordinate Missions
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Archers and Artillery
T: force German forces out of the woods
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P: enable infantry to engage the enemy in the open
Infantry
T: fix enemy forces in the open
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P: enable Cavalry, on the main effort, to attack the
enemy from the rear
Cavalry
T: kill German tribal leader and his bodyguard
P: cause the culmination of the militant tribes
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Principles of Mission Command
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Unity of effort
Decentralisation (Freedom of Action)
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“…In time [commanders at all levels]
developed to a marked degree a flexibility of
mind and a firmness of decision that
enabled them to act swiftly to take
advantage of sudden information or
changing circumstances without reference
to their superiors,
[This] requires in the higher command a
corresponding flexibility of mind, confidence
in subordinates, and the power to make its
intentions clear through the force.”
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FM Slim
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Principles of Mission Command
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Unity of effort
Decentralisation
[ Mutual] Trust
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“... He, the soldier, must have confidence
in his leaders and know that whatever
dangers and hardships he is called upon
to suffer, his life will not be flung away.”
FM Slim
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Principles of Mission Command
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Unity of effort
Decentralisation
Trust
Mutual understanding
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DESTROY
BLOCK
Language of Mission Command
DENY
SEIZE
PENETRATION
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Principles of Mission Command
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Unity of effort
Decentralisation
Trust
Mutual understanding
Timely and effective decision-making
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TIME
NOW
Upwards
Direction
(Received and
Given)
Consultation Consideration Execution
Sideways
Downwards
Review
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THE DECISION
POINT
The
Decision
Review
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“…One of the most difficult things we have to
do in war is to recognize the moment for
making a decision. Information comes in
degrees. Shall we make a decision now or
shall we wait a little longer?
It is usually more difficult to determine the
moment for making a decision than it is to
formulate the decision itself.”
Adolph Von Schell
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Command Philosophy
Principles
MISSION
COMMAND
Practice
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Mission Command in Practice
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Orders – intentions, missions and
context
What effect – and why
Appropriate resources allocated
Minimum control – maximum freedom
Subordinates decide ‘how’ to achieve
their mission
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“… Never tell people how to do things,
tell them what to do
and they will surprise you with their ingenuity”
Patton
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Summary
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Freedoms and speed of action
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Summary
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Freedoms and speed of action
Intents and Effects
Resources
Minimum control measures
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Summary
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Freedoms and speed of action
Intents and Effects
Resources
Minimum necessary control measures
Principles:
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Unity of Effort
Decentralisation
Trust
Mutual Understanding
Timely and Effective Decision-making
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QUESTIONS?
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