Implementation of the Mission Command concept in the Armed Forces – obstacles and perspectives

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to analyze the fundamental problems in defining the essence and the very concept of Mission Command in Polish conditions. These problems appear already at the level of translation of the words with which the define this concept, as well as the resulting misunderstandings and chaos of meaning. The term Mission Command is applied to the concept of command in the military, but at the same time it is a result of changes in the decision-making system also in civilian environments, at the political and other levels. The concept has been introduced for at least 20 years on Polish soil, but until 2018 it did not had a formal framework remaining only in the circulating and declarative version. During this time, it either did not break through into consciousness at many levels of command, or it accrued misunderstandings and ambiguities. This is due however, not only due to the peculiarities of the military itself, but is an issue.