Doctrine & Operations ADP 6-0

Mission Command (ADP 6-0)

The Army's approach to command and control — principles, MDMP, and Troop Leading Procedures (TLPs).

C2 vs. Mission Command

Command and Control (C2) is the fundamental exercise of authority and direction by a properly designated commander. Mission Command is the Army's *approach* to C2. Mission Command empowers subordinate decision-making and decentralized execution appropriate to the situation, allowing leaders to seize the initiative.

The 7 Principles of Mission Command

  1. Competence: Leaders and subordinates must be tactically and technically competent.
  2. Mutual Trust: Built through shared experiences, training, and proven competence.
  3. Shared Understanding: A common understanding of the operational environment, purpose, and problems.
  4. Commander's Intent: A clear, concise expression of the operation's purpose and desired end state.
  5. Mission Orders: Directives that emphasize results rather than specifying exactly how to achieve them.
  6. Disciplined Initiative: Subordinates act within the commander's intent when orders no longer fit the situation.
  7. Risk Acceptance: Commanders accept prudent risk to exploit opportunities.

MDMP vs. TLPs

The Military Decision-Making Process (MDMP) is an iterative planning methodology used at the Battalion level and higher. It has 7 steps:
1. Receipt of Mission
2. Mission Analysis
3. Course of Action (COA) Development
4. COA Analysis (War Game)
5. COA Comparison
6. COA Approval
7. Orders Production

At the Company level and below, NCOs and junior officers use the 8 Troop Leading Procedures (TLPs):
1. Receive the mission
2. Issue a warning order (WARNO)
3. Make a tentative plan
4. Initiate movement
5. Conduct reconnaissance
6. Complete the plan
7. Issue the order
8. Supervise and refine

Board Tips

Know the difference between C2 (the system) and Mission Command (the approach). Know all 7 principles of Mission Command. Be able to define 'Prudent Risk' (a deliberate exposure to potential loss when the outcome is worth the cost). For NCO boards, be ready to recite the 8 steps of TLPs in exact order. A common question: 'What does disciplined initiative mean to you?' Answer: 'Taking action in the absence of orders, or when orders no longer fit the situation, while remaining strictly within the Commander's Intent.'