HBX Management Essentials on The Commanders Intent

A key principle for all Army missions is “Commander’s Intent.” According to Army doctrine:

The commander’s intent describes the desired end state. It is a concise expression of the purpose of the operation and must be understood two echelons below the issuing commander. . . It is the single unifying focus for all subordinate elements… Its purpose is to focus subordinates on the desired end state. Its utility is to focus subordinates on what has to be accomplished in order to achieve success, even when the plan and concept of operations no longer apply, and to discipline their efforts toward that end.⊕ (Fuller and Garvin n.d.)

Properly state, the Commanders Intent has 3 parts:

• Why are we doing this
• Key tasks that need to happen
• Ideal end state