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Published Airpower Journal - Summer 1989
THE challenge of the senior cadet to the underclassman was, "Mister, what are the three most important things to an officer?" The expected reply was, "Sir, mission, mission, and mission, sir!" What was so magical about those words? Why did senior cadets and the institutional wisdom of the corps that they represented place so much emphasis on that repetitive, rote response?
In that simple formula, it seems now, was the distilled legacy of a thousand engagements, the hard-won wisdom of legions of predecessors. It was the fundamental, guiding principle an which all were expected to conduct their professional and private lives in the military.
The mission: the only valid yardstick by which one's motives, concepts, and actions can be measured in the world of military reality. The mission is the manisfestation of the collective result sought. It may be as delightfully obvious as dropping the center span of a high bridge or as abstract as affecting an enemy's will to continue the fight. The definition of one's mission varies considerably in scope and complexity, but there are some corollaries to one's mission that must always be considered. What are the missions of other people and other units? What are the missions at higher levels of activity? What are the priorities of the missions that abound in any complex military operation?
These are important considerations, for it is only in the context of the aggregate mission that one can begin to truly appreciate the place and importance of one's own. Perhaps a few examples can bring this concept into focus.
While coordinating the directed loan of some mobility equipment, an officer was dismayed to hear from the more senior "owner" of the resources that they would not be loaned because of the potential degradation to the owner's "primary" mission. After pointing out that the owner's commander himself had directed the loan, the junior officer was informed that the resources existed in the first place because of the foresight of a functional community within the Air Force and they were not meant to service every "pop-up" operation that might occur. The owner vowed to fight the order to the very top of his functional management chain, if necessary. How far up that particular avenue lie progressed is unknown, but the equipment was turned over the next day. What had happened was a breakdown in the more senior officer's appreciation of mission. Charged with the judicious use of the resources entrusted to him, he had reasoned that using those resources on something not mandated by regulations would be an abrogation of his responsibility to husband his capabilities. What was missing, of course, was the need to consider the larger ramifications of "mission," the ultimate purposes for which the resources might exist in the first place.
There are positive examples of mission appreciation, and the following is freely purloined from another as best it can be recalled. While conducting a walk-through inspection of a communications repair shop, the commander asked a technician what his mission was. Hearing that it was to repair and maintain "widgets," our exemplar of mission appreciation replied that while true, the answer was not altogether correct. As explained, the real mission of the technician was to ensure that the aircraft cocked on the alert ramp became airborne in the prescribed amount of time. Anything in which the technician might engage himself that did not contribute to that timely takeoff was inappropriate effort. Did the technician's "job" change? No, but rest assured that his appreciation of his mission did, and to the overall advantage of his unit and the Air Force. One should add that it didn't hurt the officer either, having now passed into the flag ranks.
So, what does it all mean? Only that to fully appreciate one's mission, one must look beyond immediate requirements and imperatives to find the context that will provide the true meaning of mission. It is in this quest that the real richness of the officer trainee's role response will become evident.
"Sir, mission, mission, and mission, sir!"
Disclaimer
The conclusions and opinions expressed in this document are those of the author cultivated in the freedom of expression, academic environment of Air University. They do not reflect the official position of the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, the United States Air Force or the Air University.
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