Which principle describes placing full faith and trust in junior leaders who must be empowered to make decisions and know their senior leaders will back them up?

• A. Cover and Move
• B. Situational Awareness
• C. Decentralized Command
• D. Command and Control

Answer: (C)

Decentralized command centers on empowering junior leaders to make decisions within the intent and boundaries set by senior leaders, who then back them up. This approach gives teams the speed and adaptability to respond to changing conditions, because those closest to the situation can act without waiting for orders from above. When leaders express clear intent and trust their subordinates to use their judgment, it builds initiative and maintains momentum while staying aligned with the overall mission. The other ideas describe different ways of fighting or thinking: Cover and Move is about protecting allies while advancing; Situational Awareness is about understanding what’s happening around you; Command and Control refers to centralized direction from leaders who retain decision authority. The key idea here is distributing decision-making authority and ensuring support from above.