Principles of War: Unity of Command

The Principles of War can help us understand the connections between battles in 253 B.C. and 1992 A.D. They can also help analyze martial arts training and optimize the capabilities of a martial artist.

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The seventh letter in the MOOSEMUSS mnemonic stands for “Unity of Command”. On page 4-14 of U.S. Army Field Manual FM-3-0, “Unity of Command” is defined.

“Unity of Command
For every objective, ensure unity of effort under one responsible commander.

“4-44. Developing the full combat power of a force requires unity of command. Unity of command means that a single commander directs and coordinates the actions of all forces toward a common objective. Cooperation may produce coordination, but giving a single commander the required authority unifies action.”

Unity of Command does not mean there is only one leader in an organization. It means there is only one leader OF an organization. There may be scores, even thousands, of subordinate leaders all taking their ultimate direction from a single individual. This may seem obvious or even irrelevant, but it is neither.

There are many examples in history when the principle of Unity of Command was violated with horrific results to the violators.

Unity of Command can be violated in various ways. The classic case was the assignment of two men to command a Roman army on alternate days. This army met Hannibal’s Carthegians at Cannae and was literally annihilated.

Multinational coalitions frequently result in Unity of Command violations. Forces from some countries sometimes refuse to take orders from another country’s general.

But the most common violation of Unity of Command happens when a senior commander issues tactical orders to a subordinate unit bypassing the subordinate commander. This, I think, is the reason for the precise wording in the principle, “For every objective, ensure unity of effort under one responsible commander.” For every “objective” implies that when a subordinate is given an objective, resources, and other guidance in the form of an operations order, the senior commander must allow his subordinate to command. The senior commander must not “micro-manage” the subordinate’s battle.

This Unity of Command violation occurred many times in the skies over Viet Nam as Battalion Commanders in helicopters hovered over engaged Platoons giving orders to squad leaders. The Battalion Commander thought he could see the situation better – and often he could – but bypassing his subordinate leaders confused the troops on the ground. They received conflicting orders from different leaders. The result was confused actions and dispirited subordinate commanders.

At Chancellorsville Lee was the single undisputed commander of the Army of Northern Virginia. And Lee, master of the Principles of War, delegated the attack on Hooker’s flank to Jackson. It’s reported that after issuing the order, he asked Jackson with which of his units he would assault. Jackson’s answer was, “With my whole Corps, sir.” I’m certain that was exactly the answer Lee expected and hoped to hear. But the point is he asked the question. He didn’t dictate the answer. He let his very capable subordinate command the effort to secure the defined objective.

Schwarzkopf’s force in Desert Storm was more that ten times the size of Lee’s army at Chancellorsville and contained far more complex weapons systems and logistics. Nevertheless, Unity of Command was preserved. Schwarzkopf commanded the entire theater of war, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and all allied forces in the coalition. That he also respected the chain of command is apparent because when the Marines’ breakout went much faster than expected his reaction was to reinforce their success and protect their flank by accelerating the attack of VII Corps.

You might think Unity of Command has no place in simple self defense or martial arts. You would be wrong. In self defense one must be decisive. Immediate action is necessary. Hesitation could mean death – hence the saying, “He who hesitates is lost.”

Unity of Command in simple self defense means deciding in advance to fight to defend yourself or your loved ones. It means acting quickly and decisively under duress without questioning your capability, morals, or manners. It means committing yourself to winning (surviving with minimum damage to you and loved ones). It means understanding at a deep level General Douglas MacArthur’s words, “In war, there is no substitute for victory.”

“For every objective, ensure unity of effort under one responsible commander.”

Link to the Martial Arts Training Report: The Principles of War