Mission Command:
Battle of the Bulge & General Omar Nelson Bradley
MAJ NAWAF AL-AWWAD, MAJ VIVEK SINGH, 1LT HSIANG-YUN HSU
CBRNCCC 07/08-17
16, AUG, 2017 During WWII, US Army conducted a highly successful counteroffensive operation against Germans which is commonly known as "The Battle of Bulge" and considered as the last major attack executed by German troops. The battle took its name because the initial attack by Germans created a bulge in the allied defensive line . This paper will provide summary of major event in the battle of bulge, discuss how General Omar Bradley utilized the mission command principles during the battle effectively, and how those principles affected the outcome of the
…show more content…
Build cohesive teams through Mutual Trust General Omar Bradley, who commanded the 12th US Army Group, successfully built cohesive teams through mutual trust during his chain of command. Bradley once said, “When an officer performed as I expected to, I gave him free hand. When he hesitated, I tried to help him, and when he failed, I relieved him.” Bradley was known by his troops as a real soldier's general. There are two unique qualities in his personality: straightforwardness and deep concern for humanity. He was recognized as a master strategist, who could employ his military knowledge and theories in the battlefields perfectly and always inspected the battlefields in person in his own jeep. Also, even though over forty divisions were deployed under his command, he knew all the names and skills of all division commanders, and made good use of their advantages by building mutual trusts among them.
2. Create Shared
…show more content…
However, they secured the southern flank of the regiment, made Germans hardly expand their bridgeheads and get heavier forces across the Sauer River. Furthermore, they delayed the enemy long enough in order to reassemble and counterattack. In this battle, which was typified by small unit actions and individual heroics, the victory was earned by the US stubborn soldiers. Also, according to Bradley’s distinguished mission command principles, US Army soldiers did gain such confidence, especially Bradley’s quick and clear commands.
Bibliography
ADRP 6-0 Mission Command. Headquarters Department of the Army Washington, DC. 28 March 2014.
Battle of the Bulge. Directed by Ken Annakin. Performed by Philip Yordan, & Milton Sperling. 1965.
Cirillo, Roger. Ardennes-Alsace, campaign of world war. U.S Army center of Military History. 1995.
Conn, Stetson. THE ARDENNES: BATTLE OF THE BULGE. WASHINGTON D.C.: Center of Military History. United States Army. 1988.
Zaloga, J. Steven. Omar Bradley. Osprey Publishing. 2012.
Zaloga, Steven J. Battle of the Ardennes 1944 (1) - St. Vith and the Northern Shoulder. Osprey Publishing. 2003.
Cowley, Robert & Parker, Geoffrey. THE READER'S COMPANION TO MILITARY HISTORY. Houghton Mifflin, Boston.