Throughout all of these discussions and examples, which are most worthwhile and relevant, Herr Oberst Spohn makes a strong case for ongoing studies of both tactics and the art and science of giving orders.
In addition, I think he makes a very strong, although implied and not explicitly stated, case as to the critical importance of a common understanding of tactics, through training and trust between leaders.
Each of these elements are important and interdependent, but I posit that trust is the most important. Trust, which like loyalty is most definitely a two way street, is the very foundation of both Auftragstaktik and unit Esprit de Corps. If leaders do not trust their subordinates, Auftragstaktik is impossible and orders will be voluminous and overly specific and execution will be cumbersome at best (sound familiar folks?). If subordinates do not trust their seniors unit morale, cohesion and proficiency inevitably suffer. Why SOME PEOPLE, particularly in the US Army, do not understand this is totally beyond me.
Throughout all of these discussions and examples, which are most worthwhile and relevant, Herr Oberst Spohn makes a strong case for ongoing studies of both tactics and the art and science of giving orders.
In addition, I think he makes a very strong, although implied and not explicitly stated, case as to the critical importance of a common understanding of tactics, through training and trust between leaders.
Each of these elements are important and interdependent, but I posit that trust is the most important. Trust, which like loyalty is most definitely a two way street, is the very foundation of both Auftragstaktik and unit Esprit de Corps. If leaders do not trust their subordinates, Auftragstaktik is impossible and orders will be voluminous and overly specific and execution will be cumbersome at best (sound familiar folks?). If subordinates do not trust their seniors unit morale, cohesion and proficiency inevitably suffer. Why SOME PEOPLE, particularly in the US Army, do not understand this is totally beyond me.