Command hierarchy: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 02:39, 14 September 2021

Revision as of 16:19, 16 September 2021

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{{Military ranks}}

In a [[military]] context, the '''chain of command''' is the line of authority and responsibility along which orders are passed within a [[military unit]] and between different units. In simpler terms, the chain of command is the succession of leaders through which command is exercised and executed. Orders are transmitted down the chain of command, from a responsible superior, such as a [[commissioned officer]], to lower-ranked subordinate(s) who either execute the order personally or transmit it down the chain as appropriate, until it is received by those expected to execute it. "Command is exercised by virtue of office and the special assignment of members of the Armed Forces holding military rank who are eligible to exercise command."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.whs.mil/library/mildoc/AR%20600-20,%2020%20August%201986.pdf|title=Army Regulation 600-20 20AUG86|access-date=2018-01-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117131928/http://www.whs.mil/library/mildoc/AR%20600-20,%2020%20August%201986.pdf|archive-date=2018-01-17|url-status=dead}}</ref>

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In general, military personnel give orders only to those directly below them in the chain of command and receive orders only from those directly above them. A service member who has difficulty executing a duty or order and appeals for relief directly to an officer above his immediate commander in the chain of command is likely to be disciplined for not respecting the chain of command. Similarly, an officer is usually expected to give orders only to his or her direct subordinate(s), even if only to pass an order down to another service member lower in the chain of command than said subordinate.

The concept of chain of [[Command and control|command]] also implies that higher rank alone does not entitle a higher-ranking service member to give commands to anyone of lower rank. For example, an officer of unit "A" does not directly command lower-ranking members of unit "B", and is generally expected to approach an officer of unit "B" if he requires action by members of that unit. The chain of command means that individual members take orders from only one superior and only give orders to a defined group of people immediately below them.