Mission Command, Fire Command, and Synchronization

摘要

Some professions in this world require extraordinary operational processes because of the extreme chaotic and hazardous situations in which the members work. The armed services and the fire service, not surprisingly, are two such professions, and there are very close parallels between them. Each uses a command structure and a process to manage its operations and to accomplish its objectives. Over the centuries, military fundamentals of full spectrum operations have been developed and embraced to ensure success on the battlefield. These fundamentals translate almost perfectly to the fire service. Occasionally, mishaps occur in both services that lead to personal injury or line-of-duty deaths. The processes and principles of operations serve to mitigate the inherent risk of the hazardous conditions and promote a better chance of mission accomplishment with minimal loss. Ultimately, the breakdown that usually leads to mishaps is a lack of synchronization, which involves accountability, communication, and situational awareness. When synchronization is embraced together with four other operational tenets, an organization will be most formidable on the battlefield and on the fireground.