Mission Command in Operation Anaconda: An Analysis

Mission Command in Operation Anaconda: An Analysis
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Mission Command in Operation Anaconda: An Analysis
Introduction
Mission command refers to how the military operations are executed under the authority and directives of a commander. It is considered a warfighting function that encompasses different aspects of being a soldier. Seven interconnected principles guide the mission command: competence, shared understanding, mutual trust, mission orders, commander's intent, disciplined initiatives, and risk acceptance (Department of the Army, 2012). Among various military operations, one of the most debatable but famous operations in March 2002 between the United States of America and Afghanistan is the Operations Anaconda. In this discussion, the demonstration of mission command and its principles in Operation Anaconda will be analyzed in detail, proving that these fundamental principles are guidelines for the success of military operations. 
Competence in the Military 
Knowledge and skills acquisition is made through continuous self-improvement, education, training, and true-to-life battle simulations in the military. All these contribute to one of the fundamental principles of mission command, specifically competence. Competence is vital in the battlefield operation and is something that is expected not only from the leader/commander of the military forces but is required from each of the soldiers as well. For example, the military forces of the United States of America were allowed to test their level of competence during Operations Anaconda in Afghanistan. The American troops' attack in Shahikot that was then held by the al-Qaeda fighters and the Taliban was an esteemed operation that demonstrated the competence of the mission command and the soldiers on the battlefield because of its head-on combat actions, strategic use of resources, and incredible ability to adapt to unexpected situations (Kugler, 2007). 
The Interrelationship of the Mission Command Principles
The mission command principles are said to be interconnected and essential in creating a holistic foundation. However, some argue that among all the principles of mission command, competence demonstrated by an individual in the military is the most significant. This is because the competence of an individual who is part of a military group will heavily influence whether trust and understanding can be built between a soldier and others who are part of a team. For example, in Operation Anaconda, the trust and belief in the military commander and other allies influenced the performance and submission of the military soldiers to authority. In line with this, in every military operation, there is already associated risk that cannot be eliminated despite careful and strategic planning; however, it is still the responsibility of the commanders to display competence and continuously assess the possible risks, and identify ways to reduce it for the whole military team.
In the execution of the military operation, the interconnection of mutual trust shared understanding, and the commander's intent plays a significant role in the command chain. These go hand in hand because, as...