Mission Command & Decentralized Execution

• Mission command is a leadership approach used in complex, uncertain situations.
• It's a method of Command & Control (C2).
• Administrators must use leadership skills to be commanding and controlling.
• The leader gives clear orders and their vision of the expected results.
• The doers complete tasks based on the leader's vision.
• Doers can operate independently within the leader's intent and adjust to changing conditions.
• The leader provides and adjusts resources based on information from the doers.
• Plans evolve as needed, with leader intervention when required.
• Mission command is classifies as decentralized operations.

Decentralized Execution

• Decentralized execution: Subordinate elements make autonomous decisions within parameters set by a central command.
• Mission command is best suited for complex, high-risk environments, decisions are best made at the point of execution.
• Centralized decision-making: Higher authority makes final execution decisions.
• Centralized decision-making works well in stable environments
• Centralized execution environments are slow and ineffective in dynamic and high-stakes situations.
• Mission command philosophy empowers subordinates.

Command and Control Considerations

• More control considerations are more predictable and known.
• Less control considerations are less predictable and unknown.

Mission Command's Influence

• Mission command is central to operational, tactical, and training management doctrines.
• It guides the development, organization, and execution of operations and tactics for the ASHER mission.
• It is used for training management to ensure mission capability.

Operational Doctrine

• ASHER is a regional mission requiring asset coordination from various community sources.
• Institutions cooperate to establish regional cooperatives, identify members, and evaluate assets.
• Competence throughout the hierarchy is fundamental, fostering confidence among subordinates, peers, leaders, and partners.
• Confidence builds mutual trust, enabling regional partners to accept compromises and trust each other's credibility.
• Shared understanding between partners involves aligning regional strategic objectives with the capabilities of participating organizations.
• Organizations issue mission tasks and vision/intent.
• Shared understanding happens through orderly dissemination of the operational plan.

Training Management Doctrine

• ASHER 360 focuses on missions to be fully mission-capable.
• ASHER Operation's essential tasks are evaluated for collective tasks.
• Individual tasks supporting collective tasks are identified, as are individual tasks directly supporting essential tasks.
• The mission-critical collective and individual tasks are specific to the organization.
• Operational planning outlines the mission and concept of operations.
• Briefings aid shared understanding.
• Training management enables disciplined initiative and risk-taking.
• Administrators establish skill sets, standards, and relevance within the mission focus.
• First-line managers train subordinates, building teams and trust.
• Training frequency increases due to low-cost training at the lowest level.
• Training develops agile leaders to impact mission success.

Tactical Doctrine

• Tactics involve actions each partner employs to save lives.
• Tactics support operational objectives, leading to strategic goals.
• Tactical doctrine: Historical precedents, academics, and real-life experience.
• Technological advancement impact tactics.
• Behavior description levels: tactics, techniques, and procedures.
• Tactics are the highest level of behavior
• Techniques give more detail on how to perform the tactic
• Procedures give the most detail in the execution of the tactic
• Tactics are identified using the training management system, which is exercised during operational planning.
• Shared vision of operational success builds confidence in leaders, enabling decentralized execution.
• Subordinates trust leaders.

Conclusion

• All active shooter attacks vary.
• The threat's characteristics, responders' influence, citizen actions, and terrain affect the attack's pace.
• Expect multiple tasks to run concurrently.
• Centralized decision-making is ineffective in unpredictable environments.
• Mission command is essential for managing violent, unpredictable ASHER missions.
• Mission command provides problem-solving through decentralized execution.
• It effectively plans, trains, and employs operational, tactical, and training management doctrines.

Question: What is mission command and how does it define the roles and responsibilities of leaders and doers in complex and uncertain situations?

• Mission command is an approach to Command & Control (C2) in complex and uncertain situations.
• It involves two main roles: the leader and the doers.
• The leader gives clear orders, the team completes the work based on the leader’s vision.
• Doers adapt and complete tasks to the standard outlined by the leader.
• The leader allocates resources and adjusts them, allowing for operations and initiative.

Question: What are the key differences between decentralized and centralized execution in Command & Control, and why is mission command philosophy preferred in high-risk, uncertain environments?

• Decentralized execution: Subordinate elements operate with autonomy within parameters.
• This approach is in high-risk, uncertain environments as it allows for speed.
• Centralized execution: Higher authorities make the final decisions.
• Centralized execution is suitable for stable, predictable environments.
• Mission command fosters competence, confidence, and stakeholder engagement.

Question: What is the essence of operational doctrine in the context of an Active Shooter/Hostile Event Response (ASHER)?

• Operational doctrine for ASHER: regional mission.
• It involves asset coordination from various community sources.
• It emphasizes regional planning, integration of mission command.
• Building mutual trust through competence is essential.
• Shared understanding aligns strategic objectives.

Question: What is the focus of training, management Doctrine in ASHER 360, and how does it facilitate mission success?

• Focuses on mission-focused training.
• Organizations develop critical tasks to be fully mission-capable.
• This involves briefings to facilitate shared understanding.
• It promotes risk-taking, and trust.

Question: How does tactical doctrine in ASHER 360 encompass and support the overall mission to save lives during active shooter incidents?

• Tactical doctrine involves efforts from various institutional disciplines.
• Supports operational plans, with tactics from historical precedents.
• Competence in tasks, shared vision builds trust.