A command philosophy for the information age: The continuing relevance of mission command

Abstract

British Military Doctrine espouses Mission Command, a philosophy of decentralised command based on trust and initiative. Its origins can be traced at least as far back as the Napoleonic Wars, although not necessarily in British practice. Its more immediate provenance lies in German practice in both World Wars. It was adopted by the British Army in 1987 and subsequently became a cornerstone of British Joint Doctrine. u The twenty-first century brings new challenges, new perspectives and perhaps also new opportunities. There must be some doubt as to whether a command philosophy born in high-intensity warfare and adopted in the closing years of the Cold War retains its relevance. This viewpoint considers the nature and origins of mission command, discusses some of the challenges facing it, and then discusses whether it is still valid as a _ doctrine for British forces in the first decade of the twenty-first century.