Auftragstaktik: We Can't Get There from Here

Abstract

The authors of AirLand battle doctrine, realizing the importance of decentralized command and control on the modern battlefield, incorporated AUFTRAGSTAKTIK in the doctrine to deal with the uncertainty of war. Despite the importance of AUFTRAGSTAKTIK in our doctrine, it is not embraced by the Army seven years after FM 100-5, Operations was published. This study examines the institutionalization of AUFTRAGSTAKTIK in the German Army from 1933-1945 and contrasts this successful application of a decentralized command and control system with a historical perspective of the US Army's command and control heritage. The degree to which current infantry and mechanized supporting field manuals embrace the capstone manual's inclusion of AUFTRAGSTAKTIK is then evaluated. Finally, the role of senior leaders in a decentralized command and control system is considered. The study concludes that the institutionalization of AUFTRAGSTAKTIK in the US Army is unattainable, yet movement towards such a decentralized system is worth every effort. Keywords: Infantry, Mission orders, Command and control systems, Battles.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 04, 1990
Accession Number
ADA225465

Entities

People

  • Michael J. Harwood

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Army Training
  • Civil War
  • Command And Control
  • Command And Control Systems
  • Control Systems
  • Doctrine
  • Education
  • Lessons Learned
  • Military Education
  • Military History
  • Military Science
  • Personnel Management
  • Students
  • Training
  • United States
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.

Technology Areas

  • Fully Networked C3
  • Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control