Mission Command
Mission Command Structure:
The Role of Critical Thinking in the
United States Army
Mission Command: The Role of Critical Thinking for the United States Army It is the Army’s primary mission to organize, train, and equip forces to conduct prompt and sustained land combat operations (ADRP 6-0, 1-1). To accomplish its mission, the Army utilizes its concept of unified land operations. Unified Land Operations, applicable to all Army operations is the seizing, retaining, and exploiting the initiative to gain and maintain a position of relative advantage. Such advantage provides a structure to prevent or deter conflict, prevail in war, and create the conditions for a favorable conflict resolution (ADP 3-0, p. 9). Critical thinking becomes a vital role when decisive actions need to be executed where it is guided by mission command. Mission Command is the structure that enables commanders to exercise authority and direction. This structure is built on the commander’s intent, mission type orders and decentralized/centralized execution. Agile and adaptive leaders understanding the commander’s intent and context of the mission executed their objective. Commanders and Leaders at all levels apply critical and creative thinking to their understanding and decision making. The development of critical thinking skills has been imperative and a success for the Unites States Army. As the military entered into a new era of war fighting, critical thinking has become essential to help Army forces function effectively and accomplish missions within a mission command structure. Commanders and Leaders at all levels have adopted different decision-making practices. This research paper will present the role of critical thinking and how it facilitates understanding and support the different decision-making approaches in a mission command structure.
Critical thinking and creative thinking is applied when commanders and leaders need to understand the mission and are
The Role of Critical Thinking in the
United States Army
Mission Command: The Role of Critical Thinking for the United States Army It is the Army’s primary mission to organize, train, and equip forces to conduct prompt and sustained land combat operations (ADRP 6-0, 1-1). To accomplish its mission, the Army utilizes its concept of unified land operations. Unified Land Operations, applicable to all Army operations is the seizing, retaining, and exploiting the initiative to gain and maintain a position of relative advantage. Such advantage provides a structure to prevent or deter conflict, prevail in war, and create the conditions for a favorable conflict resolution (ADP 3-0, p. 9). Critical thinking becomes a vital role when decisive actions need to be executed where it is guided by mission command. Mission Command is the structure that enables commanders to exercise authority and direction. This structure is built on the commander’s intent, mission type orders and decentralized/centralized execution. Agile and adaptive leaders understanding the commander’s intent and context of the mission executed their objective. Commanders and Leaders at all levels apply critical and creative thinking to their understanding and decision making. The development of critical thinking skills has been imperative and a success for the Unites States Army. As the military entered into a new era of war fighting, critical thinking has become essential to help Army forces function effectively and accomplish missions within a mission command structure. Commanders and Leaders at all levels have adopted different decision-making practices. This research paper will present the role of critical thinking and how it facilitates understanding and support the different decision-making approaches in a mission command structure.
Critical thinking and creative thinking is applied when commanders and leaders need to understand the mission and are
References: Benson, Colonel Bill. (2012). The Evolution of Army Doctrine for Success in the 21st Century. Military Review: March/April2012 William, Colonel Thomas M. U.S. Army Reserve. (2013). Education for Critical Thinking. Military Review Benson, Colonel Bill. (2012). The Evolution of Army Doctrine for Success in the 21st Century. Military Review; March/April2012, Vol.92 Issue 2, p2 Conley, Kathleen. (2013). Operationalizing Mission Command. Leveraging Theory to Achieve Capability HeadQuarters, Department of the Army. (2011). Unified Land Operations. Army Doctrine Publication 3-0 HeadQuarters, Department of the Army. (2012). Mission Command. Army Doctrine Release Publication 6-0 Sharpe Jr., James D.; Creviston, Thomas E. (2013). Understanding Mission Command. Army Sustainment; July-September 2013, Vol