Mission Command Principles

In today’s operating environment, focusing on modularity with forces deployed across the globe, it is vital for Commanders to study, understand and apply Mission Command principles. During the Revolutionary War, the British had forces spread from New York to Charleston and communications were extremely slow. Like today, this type of environment would have benefited from the use of Mission Command principles such as shared understanding, clear intent, disciplined initiative and accepting prudent risk. Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis, an otherwise successful military leader throughout the war, failed to demonstrate these principles in the lead-up to and during the Battle of Yorktown. His failures from April 25 to October 19, 1781, would
Construction of defenses began immediately. After conferring with engineers, Cornwallis estimated six weeks for completion. However, upon the first day of the siege, October 9, the fortifications were not complete. Furthermore, several officers who had previously visited Yorktown stated in a war council that, “his Lordship might defend that position twenty-one days, open trenches, against 20,000 men and a proportional artillery.” This may have been the case if Cornwallis commanded with the same ferocity he possessed in his previous battles. Therefore, these assessments presented Clinton with a false timeline hastening the departure of reinforcements that ultimately did not arrive in time to save Cornwallis from surrender.
The promise of immediate reinforcements also caused Cornwallis to compromise his intent for the established fortifications. Under the principles of Mission Command, a Commander must convey the purpose of the overall mission and an understanding of the subordinate’s role. This also allows lower level leaders to coordinate efforts toward the desired outcome. When Cornwallis originally chose Yorktown as a naval station, he knew it was not an ideal location and failed to plan for a possible