The destruction of the 7th Cavalry Regiment at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in June 1876 is the subject of more than a century of debate. LTC George A. Custer failed to exercise four key responsibilities expected of him as regimental commander. He failed to understand the problem and the environment, visualize a feasible solution, describe it clearly to his subordinates, and effectively direct his forces. These four aspects of mission command are integral to the operational process and help Soldiers understand and execute their commander's intentions. Custer's failure to adequately fulfill his role in the operational process resulted in his death and a strategic defeat for the nation. Mission command is the commander's use of authority and direction to empower adaptive leaders in conducting unified land operations. Helps subordinates exercise disciplined initiative when operating according to their commander's intent. To facilitate effective mission command, commanders must complete four consecutive phases of the operational process. They must thoroughly understand the problem, visualize a solution that achieves the desired end state, and then accurately describe this visualization to direct the organization. Commanders continually lead and evaluate their organizations and provide input and influence to their subordinates and staff. Effective planning is impossible without first understanding the problem. Commanders rely on personal observations, experiences, and the input of others to develop understanding. They also prioritize requests for information and incorporate additional information as those requests are responded to. A complete understanding of the problem and environment forms the basis for the operational process and… middle of paper… combat power against a numerically superior, well-armed and highly motivated enemy. His reluctance to adapt to changing conditions was unrealistic and proved fatal. Custer's failure to exercise the operational process had strategic consequences. His initial understanding was incomplete and precipitated the chain of decisions that led to his defeat. He did not visualize a realistic approach and failed to thoroughly describe his plan of attack to his subordinates. Ultimately, he was unable to effectively direct his forces during the battle due to poor communication and a complicated chain of command. If he had taken the time to fully understand the situation, Custer would have missed the opportunity for a decisive confrontation, but he might have survived to fight under more favorable conditions. Instead of accepting a prudent risk, he gambled all his strength and lost.