In late November 2001, Task Force 58 was launched from ships off the coast of Pakistan to conduct the longest-range amphibious assault in history with 403 marines and sailors, 4 fast attack vehicles and a variety of support equipment. General James N. Mattis accomplished this successfully, in large part through effective command execution of the mission. Commanders can use mission command as a philosophy or as a combat function. Mission command as a philosophy is about using commander's intent and mission orders to empower agile and adaptive leaders. It allows commanders to counter operational uncertainty by reducing the degree of certainty required to act in a given situation. Commanders build cohesive teams, provide clear intent and guidance to the commander, encourage the use of disciplined initiative, and use mission orders throughout the operational process to effectively utilize mission command as a philosophy. Commanders drive this operational process using the six-step mission command. First, they must understand the operating environment and the problem. Second, a commander must visualize the desired end state and operational approach. Third, he must describe this visualization to his subordinates using time, space, purpose and resources. Fourth, commanders must lead forces throughout preparation and execution. Finally, through each of the first four stages, commanders must lead based on purpose and motivation and evaluate through continuous monitoring and evaluation. General Mattis successfully used mission command as a philosophy by understanding, visualizing, directing, describing, and evaluating throughout the operational process as Commander of Naval Task Force 58. In the days immediately following mid document. ....ps Times, May 13, 2010. Cone, Robert W and Jon D Mohundro. “Capstone: Strategic Land Power for the Company Commander. » The Cavalry & Armor Journal, January-March 2014. Kopser, Joseph and Allen Trujillo. “People will be what they can see: a case study in leadership.” The Cavalry & Armor Journal, January-March 2014. Lowrey, Colonel Nathan S. From The Sea. Washington, DC: USMC History Division, 2011. Reflections as a Combatant Commander in a Turbulent World. Portrayed by General (Ret.) James Mattis. 2013. Mohundro, General Robert W. Cone, and Captain Jon D. “Capstone: Strategic Land Power for the Company Commander.” The Cavalry & Armor Journal, 2014. Pedersen, Richard N. “Mission Command: Achieving Unified Action.” Small Wars Journal, May 2011. Tzu, Sun. The art of war. New York: Simon & Brown, 2014. Warren, James A. American Spartans. New York: paperbacks, 2005.