Commander’s number one responsibility is to execute the mission but for a number of reasons that we’ve explored in last week’s episode and in many others, they cannot do it alone. They have to rely on others to make the mission happen. AFI 1-2 specifically says that “commanders have the responsibility and authority to act, and to trust subordinates to complete their assigned missions.” To do that, airmen need to know a commander’s intent.

Commander’s intent is “a clear and concise expression of the purpose of an operation, the desired outcome, and acceptable risks” to achieve mission success. Most often commander’s intent is delivered verbally at a meeting with the squadron leadership, such as senior enlisted leader, first sergeant, director of operations, flight commanders, etc. It then becomes their responsibility to deliver that message to the rest of the squadron and carry out the orders of the day. Other times the commander will have all hands meetings such as Commander’s Calls where members of the unit can hear from their commander directly. 

When necessary though, a commander may rely on written statements or even Mission Type Orders or MTOs. MTOs are most frequently used in operations and the actual employment of airpower as opposed to combat support functions or within the acquisitions community. Wherever written statements may be used though they are still designed to “empower subordinates with the greatest possible freedom of action within the guidelines of the commander’s intent.”

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