Which mission command principle is focused on telling subordinates what to accomplish rather than exactly how?

• A. Provide Clear Commander's Intent
• B. Use Mission Type Orders
• C. Exercise Disciplined Initiative
• D. Distributed Control

Answer: (B)

Mission-type orders specify what must be accomplished and the end state, not the exact steps. This approach communicates the objective and the purpose behind the mission, while leaving subordinates free to decide how to achieve it. That freedom is essential in dynamic situations where conditions on the ground change rapidly; trained teams can adapt methods, tempo, and tactics as needed, staying aligned with the overall intent. By outlining the task and any constraints, the commander fosters agility and initiative at lower levels without sacrificing unity of purpose.

Providing clear commander’s intent is related, since it explains why the mission matters and the desired end state, but mission-type orders go a step further by explicitly defining the task to be accomplished. The other principles—discipline initiative and distributed control—focus on encouraging initiative and spreading decision-making authority, rather than specifying the nature of the orders themselves.