Mission Command And The Battle Of The Little Bighorn

Social. "The honor of his country weighed lightly in the scale against the glorious name of ‘Geo. A Custer’. The hardship and danger to his men were worthy of little consideration when dim visions of a star (promotion) floated before the excited mind of our Lieutenant-Colonel." T Ewert, Private 7th Cavalry. Custer was a glory hunter and would let nothing stand in his way. The pact that he had made with the Lakota meant nothing when it impeded the progression of his military career.

Successful leadership on a battlefield can be measured in different ways. It is possible for a good, successful leader to lose a battle. Conversely, it is possible for an ineffective leader to win a battle, given the right circumstances. What distinguishes a successful leader from an unsuccessful one is his/her ability to oversee an operation using effective mission command. In ADP 6-0, mission command as a philosophy is defined as “as the exercise of authority and direction by the commander using mission orders to enable disciplined initiative within the commander’s intent to empower agile and adaptive leaders in the conduct of unified land operations” (ADP, 1).

According to Army ADP 6-0, mission command is the exercise of authority and direction by the commander, using mission orders to enable disciplined initiative within the commander’s intent, to empower agile and adaptive leaders in the conduct of unified land operations (CAPE, 2012). Effective mission command can generally be analyzed according to the six principles outlined in ADRP 6-0. The six principles of mission command are to: build cohesive teams through mutual trust, create shared understanding, provide a clear commander’s intent, exercise disciplined initiative, use mission orders, and accept prudent risk (CAPE, 2012). This paper provides a brief overview of the

George Custer was born on december 5, 1839 in New Harrison, Ohio. He went to U.S. Military Academy he graduated in 1861 he graduated in the bottom of his class and was said to be a risk taker and kept that title through the war. He was in multiple battles including The Battle of Trevilian Station, The Battle of Appomattox Station. Custer met his end in The Battle of Little Bighorn when he went in thinking he had it handled and ended being outnumbered 4 to 1 and everyone in the 7th cavalry

Mission command consist of the following six principles: build cohesive teams through mutual trust, create sheared understanding, provide clear commander’s

After moving 42 miles in three days, Custer realized that “directly west, in his front, are the very Indians the columns [were] searching for.” He massed his forces and deployed scouts to confirm the enemy's position. Before dawn on June 25th, they found “6,000 to 7,000 natives . . . encamped about 15 miles away . . . in the expansive Little Bighorn Valley.” Post-battle analysis confirmed “at least 2,000 warriors” in a settlement that “cover[ed] nearly two miles.” During this reconnaissance, Custer believed the enemy had discovered his column, and hastily began his attack, “fearing the natives might escape.”

From a young age, George Custer had never been known as a good student. Custer, known at West Point Military Academy for his practical jokes and bad behavior, ranked last in his class when he graduated in 1861. Fortunately for him, the Civil War was well under way, and the demand for officers was high. He was immediately placed into a second lieutenant position for the Union Army’s 2nd Cavalry, where he gained respect for his unquestionable boldness early on in the war. The Battle of Gettysburg was especially important in building his reputation, for Custer was one of the “youngest generals in the Union Army, and prior to the engagement at Gettysburg, had not led men into battle” (Sarich). In the summer of 1863, General Robert E. Lee sought

Operational leaders see how the individual components of an organization fit together and use those individuals work to make a larger outcome. When they focus on a problem, they think of what works best within the process and systems to make an impact on the situation. These types of leaders play a big part in making sure that things get done in an effective and functioning manner. According to the Army Doctrine ADP 6-0, the Army over time has strayed away from operational leaders and adapted Mission Command, which gives leaders the ability at the lowest level the capability to exercise disciplined initiative in an act of carrying out the larger mission . Mission Command is made up of the following six steps: Understanding, Visualize,

The mission command system is expressed as the placement of individuals within a unit conducting operations with a specific set of procedures and principles in place to optimize the use of its equipment. What does it mean to recognize or comprehend the art of Command and the science of Control? There are six key principles of mission command in developing a cohesive team that support all aspects of a mission. The following essay will discuss these principles and examine examples of how the famous Operation Anaconda both endured victories and inadequacies.

The fighters of the battle at little bighorn were of the Lakota Sioux tribes , Northern Cheyenne indians, and Arapaho indian tribes, battling men of the 7th Regiment of the U.S. Cavalry. Battle of the Little Bighorn, also known to some as Custer’s Last Stand, (which happened on June 25, 1876), happened at the Little Bighorn River in Montana Territory, U.S., between troops led by Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer and Northern Plains Lakota or Western Sioux and Northern Cheyenne) Indians led by Sitting Bull. Custer and all the men under his immediate command were slain. There were about 50 known deaths among Sitting Bull’s followers.Although the Second Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868),was in effect, had guaranteed the Lakota and Dakota

The Battle of the Little Big Horn is one of the most memorable battles between Native Americans and the Cavalry. In this battle the Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes fought against the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army. The Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes became the major victors of the battle with only 40 dead vs the great loss of the 7th Cavalry Regiment being 268 dead. This battle famously serves as a symbol of the clash between the “civilized” men of the United States and the “barbarian” Indian men of the West. The United States government became even more determined to rid Native Americans of their freedom because they were perceived as dangerous. Thus they became even more strict in their Indian

The march on the river was long and unbarring for the brave men who fought to protect our country. On June 25, 1876 General Gorge Custard split his 650 troops three ways Little Bighorn, Battle of the Urwin. The three columns were under command of General Custard,

When young people think about George Armstrong Custer, they think of Bill Hader’s portal of the general in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. General Custer was a commander during the Battle of Little Bighorn. The battle of Little Bighorn has helped shape United States History. The events leading up to the battle, the battle itself, and the events after the battle will be learned about for many years to come.

After the Civil War ended, Custer was offered the rank of Lieutenant Colonel with the command of the 7TH Cavalry Regiment4. Custer served in many campaigns the U.S. Cavalry conducted including Major General Hancock’s campaign against the Cheyenne and the Battle of Washita River against the Black Kettle5.

Six principles comprise the philosophy of mission command: (a) build cohesive teams through mutual trust; (b) create share understanding; (c) provide clear commander’s intent; (d) exercise disciplined initiative; (e) use mission orders; and (f) accept prudent risk. When combined together, these six principles assist the commander in balancing the aforementioned art of command and science of control. To understand how General Robert E. Lee’s performance at Gettysburg lacked the marks of a great mission commander necessitates a deeper understanding of the individual principles of mission command.