Unity of command i download7/28/2023 While an organization may have more than one commander, each commander may not simultaneously exercise the same command authority. The JCS (2017) states, “unity of command requires that two commanders may not exercise the same command relationship over the same force at any one time” (p. This unity of command ensures commanders can effectively control operations. Since joint commanders cannot be everywhere, they empower their SELs to carry out their orders and intent. Joint doctrine states that joint commanders handle their personnel’s health, warfare, morale, and discipline (JCS, 2018). The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) (2018) define command as “the authority a commander in the armed forces lawfully exercises over subordinates by virtue of rank or assignment” (p. The art of command allows commanders and advising SELs to organize and employ military forces and manage risks while giving commanders the ability to delegate authority and promote decentralized execution (Joint Chiefs of Staff, 2017 2020). Understanding these concepts will empower SELs to better understand and embrace their role. This article analyzes the three general principles of command relationships – command, unity of command, and unity of effort, and then compares these concepts with the command authorities of combatant command (COCOM), operational control (OPCON), and tactical control (TACON). This understanding is paramount because joint operations include two or more services, agencies, organizations, and/or nations. Within joint operations, subordinates, staff, and senior enlisted leaders (SELs) must understand command authorities to appreciate how unity of command complements unity of effort. (Photo courtesy of Defense Imagery Management Operations Center) Mark Moore, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, while watching for enemy personnel during a joint clearing operation with Concerned Local Citizens in Dura'iya, Iraq, Jan. Shawn Thompson, right, talks with Command Sgt.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |