Index IntroductionPrinciples of Mission CommandMission OrdersCommander IntentExpertiseShared ExpertiseMutual TrustDisciplined InitiativeRisk AcceptanceConclusionReferencesIntroductionRetribution in Syahcow, Afghanistan was a battle in the Afghan War. The mission was to conduct a reconnaissance patrol to ascertain the existence of the Taliban in the village. The reconnaissance was ambushed, and despite overwhelming odds, the US forces and their allies were victorious. The battle was won using the seven principles of Mission Command, which will be discussed in this essay. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Battle is defined as “to engage in combat between individuals or armed forces: to engage in battle: to fight: to fight with full strength, vigor, skill, or resources” (Merriam-Webster, 2020). When you are at war it is It is imperative to utilize all the capabilities at your disposal. The Principles of the Mission Command is a skill and must be used to defeat your enemies, not using the principles will result in defeat in Syahcow, Afghanistan and how each contributed to LTC Don Bolduc leading the Soldiers of the Desert Eagle Battalion to victory Principles of Mission CommandMission command dictates the mission objectives and at the same time allows them to receive orders to determine how to complete the mission and adapt its strategy based on the ever-changing battlefield “Mission command – the Army's approach to command and control – is at the core of how the U.S. Army fights.” (JCS, 2019). Mission Command principles prepare Soldiers for the mission and also assist them while they are engaged in combat. Mission Orders Knowing the objective is necessary before any operation can begin. “An order is a communication – verbal, written or signaled – that conveys instructions from superiors to subordinates” (JCS, 2019). The mission was to simply state: “defeat the insurgency” (JCS, 2019). The Desert Eagle Battalion knew their mission and completed it. Commander's Intent Understanding the mission order is also critical when planning how to execute it. “Commander intent is a clear and concise expression of the purpose of the operation and the desired military end state that supports mission command, provides staff focus, and helps subordinate and support commanders take action to achieve desired outcomes by the commander without further orders, even when the operation does not go as planned” (JP 3-0 cited in JCS, 2019) was “according to a specific strategy designed to search for the enemy, find him, repair it and finish it and attack it both kinetically and non-kinetically through the use of direct and indirect approaches. Assist the local population through the use of civil-military operations (CMO), psychological operations (PSYOP) and information operations (IO), then train the Afghan National Army (ANA) along a decentralized education program and assist other citizens Afghan security forces are able, over time, to do what we are doing and free themselves from the job” (JCS, 2019). CPT Christopher Wells, LTC Bolduc's subordinate, was tasked with leading the execution of the commander's intent. Competence To perform a task and achieve the desired intent requires knowledge and skills acquired through education and experience. “Commanders, subordinatesand tactically and technically competent teams are the foundation of effective mission command” (JCS, 2019). CPT Wells based its action plan on the intelligence gathered and used the Military Decision Making Process (MDMP). A decision that had to be made by CPT Wells was the time they would arrive at their objective, the village. He decided to arrive at dawn based on his theory “that the Taliban would be pretty tired because we received information that they were taking the bodies of the boys killed in Tagaw, bringing them back to Syahcow and burying them” (JCS, 2019). This decision demonstrated competence, the idea of ​​arriving at dawn would mean the enemy would be surprised and tired. Shared Understanding Having a plan means nothing if everyone involved doesn't understand the who, what, when, where, why, and how of said plan. “Shared understanding of the situation, together with the flow of information at the lowest possible level, forms the basis for unity of effort and initiative of subordinates” (JCS, 2019). Most operations have several moving parts, and the punishment in Syahcow, Afghanistan, was no different. CPT Wells commanded three main elements and they all understood that their ultimate objective was to establish a cordon around the village. Two of the three elements were under fire and despite the firefight, the additional support provided by the Apache pilots and the efforts necessary to regain control of the situation, "the three Coalition positions now represented a cordon to prevent any enemy in the village from escape” (JSC, 2019). Each element understood and trusted that the other element would do its part in order to complete the mission as a whole. Mutual Trust Having trust and confidence in yourself is easy, but having trust and confidence in others based on my research proves more challenging. According to Joyce Catlett, MA, psychologist, author, and lecturer “it has become increasingly difficult to remain vulnerable, confident, and open to life in this era of uncertainty, global upheaval, divorce, and disrupted family life” (Catlett, 2020 ). The heat of battle and facing life and death only make it even more difficult to trust and depend on others, but it is a necessity. “Mutual trust is essential to successful mission command and must flow throughout the chain of command” (JCS, 2019). The soldiers of the Desert Eagle Battalion had mutual trust and after regaining control of the battle and establishing a perimeter around the village that would not allow the enemy to enter or exit, their mutual trust would once again be needed; to clean up the compounds within the village. “Once the first compound was cleared, Logsdon was supposed to take a team to the west of the city and clear it from north to south. The other team, on the east side and also clearing from north to south, was led by SFC Willie Bell of ODA 323. The concept was for the teams to alternate clearing compounds, maintaining alignment and staying within range of support from each other” (JCS, 2019). They would have to trust that the other team was adequately clearing assigned areas and would provide support if needed while performing the hazardous task. Disciplined initiative When performing a dangerous task it is important to keep pushing until completion. You lack the discipline and/or initiative to complete the tasks, the results can be catastrophic. “Every individual, from the highest commander to the lowest soldier, must always remember that inaction and neglect of opportunity will justify a more severe censure than an error of judgment in the action taken” (FM 100-5, 1941 cited in JCS, 2019).