JP 1, Doctrine for the Armed Forces of the United States - Defense ...

The Profession of Arms
4. Teamwork
a. The Armed Forces of the United States—every military organization to the lowest
level—are a team. Deterring adversaries and winning the Nation’s wars are the team’s
common goals.
(1) Trust and confidence are central to unity of effort. A highly effective team is
based on the team members having trust and confidence in each other.
(2) Successful teamwork requires delegation of authority commensurate with
responsibility. This is a necessary part of building and maintaining the trust based on
competence that characterizes the successful team. Delegation unleashes the best efforts and
greatest initiative among all members of military teams.
(3) Successful teamwork also requires cooperation. While this aspect of teamwork can
be at tension with competition, and both are central human characteristics, the nature of
modern warfare puts a premium on cooperation within the team in order to prevail.
For additional details on the military profession and values, see the Chairman’s white
paper, America’s Military—A Profession of Arms.
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