What are the six principles of Mission Command?

The six principles of Mission Command emphasize the importance of decentralized decision-making and the empowerment of subordinates. The core of Mission Command is to create an environment where leaders can operate effectively and respond to changing situations with agility.

Building cohesive teams fosters trust and mutual understanding among unit members, which is essential for effective operations. Creating shared understanding ensures that all members of a team are aligned with the mission and the commander's intent, empowering them to make decisions that further those objectives. Providing clear intent allows leaders to communicate what needs to be accomplished without overly restricting the methods that subordinates can employ to achieve those goals. Exercising initiative encourages subordinates to take action and make decisions based on the commander’s intent, which is often necessary in dynamic environments. Utilizing mission orders focuses on the "what" of the mission instead of prescribing the "how," promoting flexibility and adaptability. Finally, accepting prudent risk acknowledges that decision-making often involves uncertainty and that leaders must be willing to take calculated risks to achieve mission success.

This comprehensive framework contrasts sharply with other listed options, which tend to focus on strict control and limited communication, which are antithetical to the intent of mission command.