1 RTS (A) MISSION COMMAND

2 RTS (A) Doctrine - Summary  Fighting power – physical, moral and conceptual components  Manoeuvrist Approach - with its implications for:  Conduct of operations  Command

3 RTS (A) Manoeuvrist Approach Surprise Tempo Simultaneity Pre-emption Dislocation Disruption

4 RTS (A) ActionOrientation Observation Decision

5 RTS (A) Command Philosophy  Timely decision-making  Understanding higher commander’s intent

6 RTS (A)

7 Command Philosophy  Timely decision-making  Understanding higher commander’s intent  Responsibility to fulfil that intention:  Common doctrine  Mutual trust  Obedience  Initiative

8 RTS (A) MISSION COMMAND Command Philosophy (Tenets) Principles Practice

9 RTS (A) Principles of Mission Command  Unity of effort

10 RTS (A)  The Commander’s Intent  Main and Supporting Efforts  Mission Statements Achieving Unity of Effort

11 RTS (A) Orders Format  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

12 RTS (A) Orders Format  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  Intent

13 RTS (A) “…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

14 RTS (A) 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)

15 RTS (A) 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)

16 RTS (A) Orders Format  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

17 RTS (A) Orders Format  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  Main Effort

18 RTS (A) Main Effort The activity which the commander considers crucial to the success of his mission at that time.

19 RTS (A) Orders Format  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

20 RTS (A) Orders Format  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  Subordinates’ Missions

21 RTS (A) Mission Statements Task(s) + Purpose

22 RTS (A)

23 RTS (A) Caesar Maximus Archers & artillery Roman Infantry Roman Cavalry

24 RTS (A) Mission Statements Own Mission: Task(s) + Purpose

25 RTS (A) 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 mission assigned to the commander.

26 RTS (A) Mission Statements Own Mission: Task + Purpose Subordinate 1: Task + Purpose Subordinate 2: Task + Purpose Subordinate 3: Task + Purpose There is a common thread to the subordinates’ purposes, so that when taken together they fulfil the Commander’s mission

27 RTS (A) Caesar Maximus Archers & artillery Roman Infantry Roman Cavalry T: pacify the German tribes P: bring peace to the Empire’s northern borders T: defeat militant German tribes P: bring peace to the northern borders T: kill German tribal leader and his bodyguard P: cause the culmination of the militant tribes T: force German forces out of the woods P: enable infantry to engage the enemy in the open T: fix enemy forces in the open P: enable Cavalry, on the main effort, to attack the enemy from the rear Main Effort Supporting Effort Supporting Effort

28 RTS (A)  The Commander’s Intent  Main and Supporting Efforts  Mission Statements Achieving Unity of Effort

29 RTS (A) Maximus’ Orders to his Legions (1)  Mission: defeat militant German tribes in order to bring peace to the northern borders

30 RTS (A) Maximus’ Orders to his Legions (1)  Mission: defeat militant German tribes in order to bring peace to the northern borders  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

31 RTS (A) Maximus’ Orders to his Legions (2)  Main Effort: killing of enemy leadership by the cavalry

32 RTS (A) 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.

33 RTS (A) Maximus’ Orders to his Legions (3) Subordinate Missions  Archers and Artillery T: force German forces out of the woods P: enable infantry to engage the enemy in the open  Infantry T: fix enemy forces in the open 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

34 RTS (A) Principles of Mission Command  Unity of effort  Decentralisation (Freedom of Action)

35 RTS (A) “…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.” FM Slim

36 RTS (A) Principles of Mission Command  Unity of effort  Decentralisation  [ Mutual] Trust

37 RTS (A) “... 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

38 RTS (A) Principles of Mission Command  Unity of effort  Decentralisation  Trust  Mutual understanding

39 RTS (A) ADVANCE TO CONTACT ATTACK BLOCK CLEAR DEFEAT DEFEND DELAY DENY DESTROY HOLD PENETRATION SECURE SEIZE Language of Mission Command

40 RTS (A)

41 RTS (A) Principles of Mission Command  Unity of effort  Decentralisation  Trust  Mutual understanding  Timely and effective decision-making

42 RTS (A) Direction (Received and Given ) Consultation Sideways Consideration Execution TIME NOW Upwards THE DECISION POINT Downwards The Decision Review

43 RTS (A) “…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

44 RTS (A) MISSION COMMAND Command Philosophy Principles Practice

45 RTS (A) Mission Command in Practice  Orders – intentions, missions and context  What effect – and why  Appropriate resources allocated  Minimum control – maximum freedom  Subordinates decide ‘how’ to achieve their mission

46 RTS (A)

47 RTS (A)

48 RTS (A) “… Never tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity” Patton

49 RTS (A) Summary  Freedoms and speed of action

50 RTS (A) Summary  Freedoms and speed of action  Intents and Effects  Resources  Minimum control measures

51 RTS (A) Summary  Freedoms and speed of action  Intents and Effects  Resources  Minimum necessary control measures  Principles: m Unity of Effort m Decentralisation m Trust m Mutual Understanding m Timely and Effective Decision-making

52 RTS (A) QUESTIONS?