Dwight D. Eisenhower's Utilization Of Mission Command Principles In World War II

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Dwight D. Eisenhower's Utilization of Mission Command Principles in World War II. SSG Luis A. Aviles MI Senior Leader Course Class 24-018 SFC Paul Votruba 12 Jun 2024. Dwight D. Eisenhower's Utilization of Mission Command Principles in World War II General Dwight D. Eisenhower is one of the greatest military leaders in history. As Supreme Allied Commander, his ability to lead through mission command principles during World War II (WWII) made his accomplishments possible. The principles we follow today are not the same as guiding doctrine from the 1940s, but Eisenhower's actions seem to align with these modern principles very well. He used the seven principles of mission command throughout several battles and most of WWII. With any leader …show more content…

Mission Command Principles Competence Competence is something Eisenhower never lacked during WWII. Eisenhower developed under several of the Army's greatest leaders, including General Pershing and General MacArthur. During his time under these infamous leaders, Eisenhower took the time to develop and hone his skills from examples set before him. During Operation Torch, Eisenhower exemplified his competence. Eisenhower's ability to plan and execute the first large-scale Allied invasion in North Africa showcased his strategic acumen (D'Este, 2002). His promotion rate during WWII also shows his competence as a leader. He earned a promotion from Lieutenant Colonel to General of the Army in eight years (2013). He is one of five five-star generals to earn that title. Superiors and subordinates had the utmost faith in his ability to lead, with this in mind Eisenhower appropriately exercised the competence principle of mission command. Mutual Trust Not only did his superiors acknowledge his competence, his subordinates also realized he was a capable leader and trusted his decisions. "From Churchill to the lowest Tommy, from Roosevelt to …show more content…

Risk Acceptance Within the principles of mission command, risk acceptance is one of the principles that provides commanders with the best chance to overtake enemies. Very rarely in war has a major momentum shift followed something that did not require a commander to assume risk. Eisenhower was well versed in risk acceptance. A prime example of his ability to exercise this principle is Operation Overlord. Launching Operation Overlord despite uncertain weather conditions exemplifies calculated risk acceptance on his part. His readiness to take risks, balanced with thorough planning, often led to significant strategic gains (D'Este, 2002). Operation Overlord's impact on WWII is unparalleled by any other operation and Eisenhower's ability to accept the risk is what made it possible. Lessons Learned Shared understanding is something that I realized I have had to do in my duties as an NCOIC and will have to continue to enforce. Soldiers often believe they do work just to do it, but that is not the case. It is the job of NCOIC and OIC to ensure we are reinforcing the purpose of the work we do. When I received a new batch of soldiers in my section, I had to highlight the impact the OSIRs they regularly produce have on the

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