U.S. Military Chain of Command the Traditional

U.S. Military Chain of Command

The traditional wars that have followed the Europeans models developed by Napoleon basically incorporate the leadership in writing and training troops for rules of engagement. Rules of Engagement (ROE) is described as a management tool that help in keeping soldiers within control and aligned with the specific mission. This management tool has contributed to benefits and costs in which training ROE in each leadership level down to the individual soldiers enables every participant to make responsible decisions and achieve the mission as stated by the battlefield commander. Notably, the chain of command basically consists of various levels since it links everyone in the uniformed service ranging from the senior ranks to the junior ranks as well as the United States President. An important example that correlates an understanding of rules of engagement with limited war ideology is the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War incorporates various levels in the chain of command from infantry soldiers in Vietnam to the President and was mainly guided by the rules of engagement.

Chain of Command in Vietnam War:

Since there is always the potential for breakdown of discipline in war, the United States Army basically functions with applicable rules of engagement and carries out its operations in compliance with international laws and conditions established by the higher commanders. In most cases, the higher commanders are responsible for drafting the rules of engagement in warfare. Every soldier in the Army has someone they are answerable to who basically outranks the soldier. The Vietnam War experienced the largest mobilization of the National troops after President Johnson was requested to mobilize more than 200,000 National Guards and reserves by the then Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara (May & Faria, 2010). While he initially viewed the move as a sign of intentions that could trigger Chinese and Soviets intervention in the war, the President obliged to the recommendations. The individual soldiers in Vietnam resented the decision because they considered the Guard as a refuge for draft dodgers. As a result, these individuals usually treated the Guard with bias and indifference. The decision to mobilize the National Guard was not an appropriate rule of engagement that resulted in the breakdown of command since for individual soldiers. Actually, the involvement of the National Guardsmen usually requires planning by combatant commanders and request for involvement in the war.

During the Vietnam War, the Fleet Marine Force, Pacific served as battalion commanders since it a command unit that manages all Marine forces in the United States in Asia and the Pacific (Lester, 1990). Together with its commanding general, Lt. General Victor Krulak, this unit controlled the flow and support of Marines within and out of Vietnam. However, the Fleet Marine Force, Pacific did not have operational control powers even though its influence was felt throughout the chain of command to the president. In addition, there was Marine Amphibious Force command, which was a unique incorporated combat organization. Under a single commander, the unit combined the necessary elements for continued combat and pacification in the northern five provinces of South Vietnam. This unit was responsible for the command, coordination, and control of all the activities of the United States' Army and advisory effort.

The divisional command was divided into three i.e. 1st Marine Division, 3rd Marine Division, and 1st Marine Aircraft Wing with different division commanders. In the first segment, the divisional commander was mandated with task of searching and destroying operations, civic action that could deny any support to enemy forces, and rice and com collection. Under its commander, the second unit engaged in over 120 named operations such as the famous siege at Khe Sanh. The third segment was responsible for providing close support to operational forces while intercepting and harassing the enemy when possible.

General William Westmoreland was an American General who commanded the United States military operations in Vietnam. The American General decided to fight the attrition war by distributing large and bulky American units through rice paddies and the jungle to search for elusive enemy units (Boot, 2011). He continued to demand for more U.S. troops and encouraged them to fire as much artillery as possible even without specific targets. Westmoreland expressed optimism about the war through public statements about successful initiatives by the American troops over the Vietnamese Army.

As the second highest chain of command, the Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara had a huge impact in the Vietnam War since he was the principal defense policy advisor to the president. Actually, military action adopted by the president is confirmed through the secretary of defense ("U.S. Military Chain of Command," 2003). It was Robert McNamara who recommended to the president to mobilize more than 200,000 National Guards and reserves for the Vietnam War. This was despite of the fact that President Johnson had originally made a conscious decision not to mobilize these troops since he felt that the Vietnam ground war could be completed within a year.