Army Doctrine Reference Publication ADRP 6-0 Mission Command Change 2 augments the mission command doctrine established in Army Doctrine Publication (ADP) 6-0, also titled Mission Command. This publication contains an expanded discussion on the overarching doctrinal guidance on command, control, and the mission command warfighting function. It describes how commanders, supported by their staffs, combine the art of command and the science of control to understand situations, make decisions, direct action, and lead forces toward mission accomplishment.

The principal audience for ADRP 6-0 is all members of the profession of Arms. Commanders and staffs of Army headquarters serving as joint task force or multinational headquarters should also refer to applicable joint or multinational doctrine concerning command and control of joint or multinational forces. Trainers and educators throughout the Army will also use this publication.

Commanders, staffs, and subordinates ensure their decisions and actions comply with applicable U.S., international, and, in some cases, host-nation laws and regulations. Commanders at all levels ensure their Soldiers operate in accordance with the law of war and the rules of engagement. (See Field Manual [FM] 27-10.)

To comprehend the doctrine contained in ADRP 6-0, readers must first understand the nature of operations and the Army’s operational concept described in ADP 3-0, Unified Land Operations. Readers must understand how the foundations of unified land operations contribute to unified action. In addition, they must be familiar with the fundamentals of the operations process established in ADP 5-0, The Operations Process, and the fundamentals of Army leadership.

Taken as a whole, the doctrine in ADP 6-0, ADRP 6-0, and ADP 5-0 forms the foundation for the tactics, techniques, and procedures for the exercise of mission command.

ADRP 6-0 uses joint terms where applicable. Selected joint and Army terms and definitions appear in both the glossary and the text. Terms for which ADRP 6-0 is the proponent publication (the authority) are marked with an asterisk (*) in the glossary. Definitions for which ADRP 6-0 is the proponent publication are boldfaced in the text. These terms and their definitions will be in the next revision of FM 1-02. For other definitions shown in the text, the term is italicized and the number of the proponent publication follows the definition.

ADRP 6-0 contains three chapters:

Chapter 1 discusses the exercise of mission command. First, it describes the general nature of military operations, including the complex challenges for which mission command doctrine must provide solutions. Then it discusses mission command as a foundation of the Army’s operational concept, unified land operations. Next, it explains the Army’s approach to the exercise of mission command, including an introduction to mission command as a philosophy of command and as a warfighting function.

Chapter 2 addresses the mission command philosophy of command in greater depth. First, it discusses the principles of mission command that guide commanders and staffs. Next, it elaborates on the art of command, including authority, decisionmaking, and leadership. Then it explains the science of control, including information, communication, structure, and degree of control. It concludes with a short discussion of how commanders apply the philosophy of mission command to balance the art of command with the science of control.

Chapter 3 addresses the mission command warfighting function in greater depth. First, it defines the mission command warfighting function and describes its purpose. Next, it discusses the tasks of the mission command warfighting function, including commander tasks, staff tasks, and additional tasks. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the commander’s mission command system, including personnel, networks, information systems, processes and procedures, and facilities and