Which of the following statements is true about the basis for command and control?

• A. The basis is the strength of the subordinates.
• B. The basis is the authority vested in the subordinates over the commander.
• C. The basis for all command and control is the authority vested in a commander over subordinates.
• D. The basis is the weather conditions.

Answer: (C)

The basis for command and control is the authority vested in a commander over subordinates. This authority provides the legal and organizational power to direct actions, assign tasks, set priorities, allocate resources, and synchronize efforts to achieve the mission. With it, a commander can issue orders, convey intent, and hold units accountable, while subordinates operate within the boundaries of that directive. Weather or environmental factors influence how C2 is executed, but they are not the fundamental basis itself. Inverting the relationship so that subordinates hold authority over the commander undermines unity of effort and coordination, and attributing the basis to subordinate strength misplaces the source of command authority. Therefore, the statement that the basis for all command and control is the authority vested in a commander over subordinates is the correct one.