ABSTRACT
Making decisions is one of the essential and most important responsibilities of any military commander. The act of exercising command consists of making decisions and directing their execution. The much larger perspective at the operational level requires a more complex and challenging decision-making process than at the tactical level. Making a sound decision requires quick thinking; focus on the essentials, logical reasoning, common sense, and good judgment. A sound decision is the result of not only the quality or quantity of information received but of the commander's character, personality, professional knowledge, experience, and judgment. The main types of decisions are organizational, informational, and combat. The operational commander should announce the decision to the staff and transmit it both to subordinate functional/service component commanders and to the higher commander. Sound decision-making requires that the operational commander possesses accurate, relevant, and timely information on all aspects of the situation.
