The phrase command and control is used in various fields:

In the military: The exercise of authority and direction by a properly designated commander over assigned and attached forces in the accomplishment of the mission. Command and control functions are performed through an arrangement of personnel, equipment, communications, facilities, and procedures employed by a commander in planning, directing, coordinating, and controlling forces and operations in the accomplishment of the mission. Also called C2.

In governance and government:

The term refers more generally to the maintenance of authority with somewhat more distributed decision making. In these civilian contexts the term command is unfashionable but the meaning is the same. Some management science theorists even hold that the idea is now obsolete. For instance Dee Hock says that "Purpose and principle, clearly understood and articulated, and commonly shared, are the genetic code of any healthy organization. To the degree that you hold purpose and principles in common among you, you can dispense with command and control. People will know how to behave in accordance with them, and they'll do it in thousands of unimaginable, creative ways. The organization will become a vital, living set of beliefs." However, such theories are just that, since purpose and principle notions generally involve linear, predictable systems, which would thus not require command and control. In the military this principle has been applied by German armed forces since the 19th century as Auftragstaktik.

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U.S. Army Europe Soldiers train their comrades from Republic of Georgia in force protection techniques
Mon, 14 Jul 2008 04:00:00 -0000
TBILISI, Republic of Georgia (July 14, 2008) -- U.S. and Georgian forces came together here July 7 to conduct force protection training in preparation for the upcoming exercise Immediate Response 2008. Soldiers from U.S. Army Europe’s 18th Military Police Brigade and 21st Theater Sustainment Command and Georgian Soldiers from the 4th Infantry Brigade continued to develop and strengthen their relationships as they learned how to conduct personnel and vehicle searches at an entrance control point.
Army announces critical language incentive-pay program
Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:00:00 -0000
The U.S. Army announced Aug. 13 a financial incentive pilot program for recruiting new college Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets who take courses in critical foreign languages, such as Arabic, Persian-Farsi, and Chinese-Mandarin, as well as commit to entering the regular Army, the Army Reserve, or the Army National Guard as a commissioned officer.
Army Completes Chemical Stockpile Neutralization at Newport Chemical Depot
Mon, 11 Aug 2008 04:00:00 -0000
The United States Army Chemical Materials Agency (CMA) completed neutralization Aug. 11 of the chemical weapons stockpile of nerve agent VX at the Newport Chemical Agent Disposal Facility (NECDF), located at Newport Chemical Depot, Ind. This achievement brings the United States one step closer to safely destroying the national stockpile of chemical weapons.

Air Force Link Top Stories

Expeditionary Center students save a life
afnews@afnews.af.mil (Tech. Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol) Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:58:04 -0500
Two Air Force Expeditionary Center's Contingency Response Mission Orientation Course students attending class here saved a man from drowning on their off-duty time July 30 in Bordentown, N.J. Staff Sgt. Milton Cobo and Senior Airman Nestor Rivas went to the do some studying with their classmates and enjoy an evening by the hotel pool after a day of classes when the call for help was heard at approximately 6 p.m.   "We were there as part of a study group," Sergeant Cobo said. "We were sitting in the corner near the pool when we heard a woman yell, 'Help! Help!' At first it didn't sound like a frantic yell, but this all happened in seconds so we responded." more...
Yokota Airmen participate in Japanese festival
afnews@afnews.af.mil (Airman 1st Class Jonathan Fowler ) Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:37:37 -0500
Members from Yokota Air Base, Japan, participated in the Fussa City Tanabata Festival Aug. 8 here. Airmen and U.S. citizens from Yokota AB had the opportunity to carry a Mikoshi, a type of portable shrine, from Shinmeisya Shrine to Fussa's City Hall.  It is believed that carrying the shrine brings luck for the upcoming fall and helps the upcoming harvest. The festival itself featured a number of different groups carrying Mikoshi shrines and mobile stages featuring performances of traditional Japanese characters such as a fox and an Oni, or a demon. At many points during the march from Shinmeisya Shrine, the carrying groups would raise the shrines and cheer in front of the stages. more...
Security forces Airman at Academy scheduled for Article 32
afnews@afnews.af.mil () Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:20:23 -0500
An Article 32 hearing for an enlisted Airman assigned to the 10th Security Forces Squadron convenes Aug. 21 at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Airman 1st Class David Christie, who is not an Academy cadet, has been charged with violating the Uniform Code of Military Justice by deserting with intent to shirk important service and willfully disobeying a noncommissioned officer.  It is emphasized that the charge stated is merely an accusation at this time. Airman Christie is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. more...

National Guard - Top News

Predator passes 400,000 flight hours
The MQ-1 Predator unmanned aircraft system surpassed 400,000 flight hours during a mission in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility Aug. 18...
Combat vets prepare Guardsmen for war zone
When Maj. Donald McArdle deployed to Iraq with the 42nd Infantry Division in October 2004, he was afraid that he wasn't really ready for war...
Arizona Guard evacuates victims of canyon flooding
At least 14 Arizona Army National Guard Soldiers and two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters continued to assist in the evacuation and emergency care of residents and campers near the Grand Canyon today after heavy rains overflowed the Redlands Earthen Dam and cut off routes to a remote village and reservation...

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