Brainlaag wrote:Quite the opposite is the case, people should know HOW to do it and the CO being the one who says WHAT to do. If SLs and grunts don't get the concept of how to accomplish something, nothing will work out.
Those on the ground have the best situational awareness and thus can recognize what approach and which tactic apply best. The CO gives only the direction and target, it's up to the officers to figure out how to approach the order.
Pretty much. In the real military they call it 'mission based orders', meaning you tell them what they're supposed to do, how it fits into the bigger plan, and restrict their execution within certain margins so that they're coordinating with the rest of the plan (like saying don't move in until this squad is already ready to move, etc) and then let them have at it.
This is the only sensible way for a commander to lead, unless he is literally on the field, next to the SL, looking at the objective and able to actually make a tactical decision with pretty much the same degree of SA.
I think a lot of the problems with Commanders is that they don't know how to limit themselves to a sensible leadership style. They try and make decisions because they think they have to, but they dont make the right ones and don't know when to shut up.
Most of my time leading beyond the SL level is to just keep up to date on intel, make sure SLs are telling me when they're doing something different from the last thing they told me about, and adjusting the overall plan gently as things change. Broad orders, light on detail, high on coordinating factors most of which are purely based on timing or proximity, meaning are they in the same area working at the same objective. Once two squads are attacking a flag the only tactical decisions should be made on a whisper between those two squad leaders and I'm just watching the map to see if they're dropping any markers or if I think they're maybe going too outside the box (like leaving a cap radius when I need them to anchor it).
Its actually not that hard to command once you realize its not about micro, its all about macro, especially with public squads. Its more about strategy and keeping people on the ball.