The analysis and evaluation of past events become an immediate part of effective military activity. This process provides an opportunity to realize possible errors and ways that will contribute to their limitation. Various tools can also be used in the study, such as the seven principles of mission command, which include competence, mutual trust and understanding, commander’s intent and orders, disciplined initiative, and risk. Applying the principles of mission command to The Battle of Wanat during the War in Afghanistan allows researchers to comprehensively analyze the actions of American troops and assess what is happening.
The Battle of Wanat is one of the most significant and serious loss events that occurred during the Afghan War. It occurred on July 13, 2008, and was a confrontation between American and Taliban troops. It is stated that “when the guns finally went silent at Wanat, nine U.S. soldiers had been killed, 27 were wounded, and at least dozens of Taliban fighters lay dead” (South, 2018, para. 3). The armed conflict occurred on the territory of the province of Nuristan, where the U.S. troops built an outpost, thereby their main task was to prevent Taliban fighters from using it as a base. However, the opponents unexpectedly attacked this point, which led to significant losses on both sides. The advantage of the Taliban troops was given by the support of the local population, limited resource channels for American soldiers, and an insufficiently large number of military personnel sent to the outpost.
The first principle that played a significant role in the military clash under study was building teams through mutual trust. The central aspect of it is the presence of a strong and effective leader who will be able to rally the team to achieve and guide the team toward a common goal. Because the attack on the Taliban troops occurred unexpectedly, the coordinated work of the team and trust in the decisions of the commander were invaluable. Leaders must also trust their subordinates to make decisions and take appropriate actions. This allowed the soldiers to find the fastest way out of the current situation and avoid additional losses.
The guiding principle regarding which The Battle of Wanat will be evaluated is shared understanding. It is of critical importance because it ensures the most productive and well-coordinated work, especially in situations such as military operations. To ensure this principle, leaders need to work on educating and spreading awareness about the mission and its objectives. This shared understanding enables teams to make independent decisions that align with these valuable components. During the battle on Wanat, this aspect was not observed because despite the fact that they had an idea of the purpose of building the outpost, however, they did not gain knowledge about the environment, local terrain, and the capabilities of the Taliban troops.
Commander’s intent is one of the most essential principles of mission command. Tolman (2020) indicated that “clearly articulated commander’s intent allows leaders to continually adjust plans after first contact because every Soldier understands why they are doing the mission and what the commander expects” (para. 10). Regarding the case under study, the main component of the work of the troops that led to the results obtained was a clear translation of the intentions of the commander and the command regarding the goal. Moreover, this principle was observed in the rapid response and flexibility of the leader when making decisions during an attack by enemy troops.
The fourth principle is a disciplined initiative, which implies taking action and making decisions based on the commander’s intent. In other words, when critical situations arise, especially such as The Battle of Wanat, subordinates should know what they are working for and what results in their activities should lead. In the case of Wanat, the American troops failed to exercise this principle of mission command, which made it difficult for them to respond effectively to the enemy’s attacks and defend their position. This led to serious and cruel consequences for American troops and heavy losses not only on the part of people but also ammunition and valuable location.
The fifth principle is mission orders, which provide a clearer understanding of what happened during the Battle of Wanat. The research highlighted that “orders provide guidance, assign tasks, allocate resources and delegate authority.” (Field, 2019, para. 32). Thus, the leaders of military troops should be able to correctly transmit and distribute the necessary instructions and make sure that subordinates understand them. In addition, mission orders provide an opportunity to achieve a high level of flexibility in adapting and finding ways to resolve unexpected situations. In Wanat, the American troops were provided with sufficiently timely instructions for action as far as they were possible. Despite this, it was not enough, which led to the fact that this battle remained one of the most unsuccessful for the American army during the War with Afghanistan.
Risk acceptance also has an integral role in performing military operations. This is because people are exposed to a high degree of danger at this time, and everyone involved in this kind of case should understand exactly what can happen. Moreover, commanders must weigh the risks and benefits of a course of action and make informed decisions based on that assessment (Field, 12019). In the case of Wanat, despite the possible awareness of this aspect, the American troops were not ready for unexpected actions by the Taliban troops. The justification for this may be the lack of the opportunity to receive resources from other groups of U.S. soldiers and a large number of dead people.
The last but no less important principle is developing situational understanding. It implies a clear and rapid response to situations, their assessment, analysis, and finding the most effective and safe solutions. This principle also implies the development and strengthening of a sense of responsibility among subordinates. Military commanders should be aware of the responsibility they bear for those who work with them. It is worth noting that when attacking enemy troops, the rapid response was of particular importance, but it did not imply making the right decisions. In other words, in such hectic conditions, leaders and their subordinates are exposed to much stress. American soldiers lacked this important principle, which made it difficult for them to effectively plan and execute their mission and respond to the enemy’s attacks.
In conclusion, when analyzing the Battle of Wanat with the help of the seven principles of military mission command helped to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the procedure itself and how to resolve it. Hence, it was highlighted that the team had enough mutual trust and a clear commander’s intent. On the other hand, compliance with other principles lacked efficiency and thorough study, which led to horrific consequences and a large loss of American soldiers and a valuable military facility.
References
South, T. (2018). 10 years after Wanat: Army leaders should look to this battle to prepare for brutal fights in the future. Army Times. Web.
Field, C. (2019). Connecting good soldiering and mission command. The cove. Web.
Tolman, F. N. (2020). Mission command: A senior enlisted leader’s perspective. Army University Press. Web.