Field Manual FM 6-0 Mission Command September 2011 US Army

Field manual (FM) 6-0 is the Army's keystone manual for mission command. It presents overarching doctrinal guidance on command, control, and the mission command warfighting function. The doctrine in FM 6-0 provides a foundation for developing subordinate field manuals on specific aspects of mission command. FM 6-0 also forms the foundation for training and Army Education System curricula on the exercise of mission command in full spectrum operations. This edition of FM 6-0 reflects an evolved concept of mission command based on lessons learned from ten years of persistent conflict. It accounts for the complex, uncertain, and ever-changing nature of operations and recognizes that military operations are foremost a human undertaking. As such, this edition emphasizes the human dimension of mission command, including the central role of the commander. 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. This manual is organized into three chapters and two supporting appendixes. Chapter 1 discusses the fundamentals of mission command. First, it describes the general nature of operations in which commanders, supported by their staffs, exercise mission command. It then discusses mission command as a philosophy and as a warfighting function. Finally, it discusses how mission command contributes to operational adaptability. Chapter 2 addresses the mission command warfighting function. First, it defines the mission command warfighting function and describes its purpose. Next, it discusses the commander and staff tasks of the mission command warfighting function. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the mission command system. Chapter 3 addresses how commanders apply the art of command and the science of control. First, it discusses the relationship between command and control. Next, it defines command, lists its elements, and discusses the art of command. It concludes by defining control, listing its elements, and addressing the science of control. Appendix A discusses knowledge and information management. Appendix B discusses team building. To comprehend the doctrine contained in FM 6-0, readers must first understand the nature of operations and the Army's operational concept described in FM 3-0, Operations. In addition, they must be familiar with the fundamentals of the operations process established in FM 5-0, The Operations Process, and the fundamentals of leadership addressed in FM 6-22, Army Leadership. FM 6-0 applies to the Active Army, the Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and the United States Army Reserve unless otherwise stated. The principal audience is commanders, leaders, and staff. Commanders and staffs of Army headquarters serving as a joint task force or a 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 manual. FM 6-0 uses joint terms where applicable. Most terms with joint or Army definitions are in both the glossary and the text. Glossary references: Terms for which FM 6-0 is the proponent publication (the authority) have an asterisk in the glossary. Text references: Definitions for which FM 6-0 is the proponent publication are in boldfaced text. These terms and their definitions will be in the next revision of FM 1-02. For other definitions in the text, the term is italicized and the number of the proponent publication follows the definition. See the introduction for a summary of new, modified, and rescinded Army definitions.