Chain of command

Chain of command

In a military context, the chain of command is the line of authority and responsibility along which orders are passed within a military unit and between different units. Orders are transmitted down the chain of command, from a higher-ranked soldier, such as a commissioned officer, to lower-ranked personnel who either carry out the order personally or transmit it down the chain as appropriate, until it is received by those expected to carry it out.

In general, military personnel give orders only to those directly below them in the chain of command and receive orders only from those directly above them. A service member who has difficulty carrying out a duty or order and appeals for relief directly to an officer above his immediate commander in the chain of command is likely to be disciplined for not observing the chain of command.

The concept of chain of command also implies that higher rank alone does not entitle a higher-ranking service member to give commands to anyone of lower rank. For example, an officer of unit "A" does not directly command lower-ranking members of unit "B", and is generally expected to approach an officer of unit "B" if he requires action by members of that unit. The chain of command means that individual members take orders from only one superior and only give orders to a defined group of people immediately below them.

In addition, within combat units, line officers are in the chain of command, but officers in specialist fields (such as medical, dental, legal, supply and chaplain) are not, except within their own specialty. For example, a medical officer in an infantry battalion would be responsible for the combat medics in that unit, but would not be eligible to command the battalion or any of its subordinate units.

The term is also used in a civilian management context describing comparable hierarchical structures of authority.

The Chain of command is also the chain that someone of higher rank uses to beat another with.

ee also

* Command responsibility
* High command
* Military rank
* Directive control


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • chain of command — chain of com mand n a system in an organization by which decisions are made and passed from people at the top of the organization to people lower down ▪ Symonds is third in the chain of command …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • chain of command — n. the hierarchy, in order of rank, of persons having authority in an organization or undertaking, specif. a military one …   English World dictionary

  • Chain of Command — In a military context, the chain of command is the line of authority and responsibility along which orders are passed, see Command hierarchy#Chain of command. Chain of Command may also refer to: In television: Chain of Command (Beast Wars), the… …   Wikipedia

  • chain of command — a series of executive positions or of officers and subordinates in order of authority especially with respect to the passing on of orders, responsibility, reports, or requests from higher to lower or lower to higher * * * a series of… …   Useful english dictionary

  • chain of command — A term derived from military planning to denote the flow of *authority and *accountability within an activity or organization. In a chain of command, an individual takes orders from another individual at the next hierarchical level for example, A …   Auditor's dictionary

  • chain of command — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms chain of command : singular chain of command plural chains of command a system in which each person in an organization has a particular status and gives orders to the person immediately junior to them …   English dictionary

  • chain of command — vadovavimo grandis statusas T sritis Gynyba apibrėžtis Vadovavimo hierarchija nuo vadų iki pavaldinių. atitikmenys: angl. chain of command; command channel pranc. chaîne de commandement …   NATO terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • chain of command — Date: 1898 a series of executive positions in order of authority < a military chain of command > …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Chain of Command — Retour de flammes Retour de flammes (Chain of Command) est un film américain réalisé par David Worth en 1994. Sommaire 1 Synopsis 2 Fiche technique 3 Distribution 4 Lien externe …   Wikipédia en Français

  • chain of command — order of those in power, line of authority    If you are a lieutenant, the chain of command goes up and down …   English idioms

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”