Which statement accurately reflects the six principles of mission command?

• A. Build cohesive teams through mutual trust; Create shared understanding; Provide a clear commander's intent; Exercise disciplined initiative; Use mission orders; Accept prudent risk.
• B. Use mission orders; Accept prudent risk; Create shared understanding; Build cohesive teams; Provide a commander’s intent; Exercise disciplined initiative.
• C. Build cohesive teams through mutual trust; Create shared understanding; Exercise disciplined initiative; Accept prudent risk.
• D. Accept prudent risk; Use mission orders; Build cohesive teams; Provide a commander’s intent.

Answer: (A)

Mission command rests on empowering subordinates to act with initiative within the commander's intent. The six principles—building cohesive teams through mutual trust; creating shared understanding; providing a clear commander’s intent; exercising disciplined initiative; using mission orders; and accepting prudent risk—work together to enable timely, informed decisions at all levels.

Building cohesive teams through mutual trust develops confidence to act and rely on one another. Creating shared understanding ensures everyone grasps the situation, the mission, and how success will look. Providing a clear commander’s intent communicates the desired end state and purpose so decisions can align with the bigger objective. Exercising disciplined initiative allows individuals to take appropriate action without waiting for step-by-step orders when the situation requires a timely response. Using mission orders conveys intent and critical constraints rather than micromanaging tasks, giving squads the freedom to adapt. Accepting prudent risk acknowledges that some risk is necessary to seize opportunities and achieve the mission, as long as it is balanced with discipline and awareness of consequences.

The statement that includes all six elements is the most accurate reflection. Any option that omits one or places emphasis on only a subset misses how mission command functions in practice.