Mission Command in Ancient Rome, 218 B.C.-A.D. 100
Abstract
Over the last two decades, the concept of "mission command" has pervaded U.S. Army doctrine and dominated much of its intellectual discourse. This thesis seeks to contribute to this discussion by examining antecedents of mission command found in the armies of Ancient Rome (218 B.C. to A.D. 100). By drawing on extant literary evidence, the author argues that Rome's highly offensive and initiative-oriented way of war influenced its development of a command structure that prioritized battlefield dispersion, subordinate autonomy, information sharing, inherently flexible mission orders, and decentralized operations. The effort Roman leaders took to codify and institutionalize these processes moreover reveals their reliance on concepts resembling the modern principles of mission command. This thesis draws three additional conclusions: (1) nineteenth century Prussia was not the first state to develop a command system akin to mission command, (2) mission command is a timeless approach to wartime leadership, and (3) the U.S. Army should continue to employ mission command as its primary approach to command and control.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 10, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1210844
Entities
People
- Michael J. Rasak
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College