Comprehension or Confusion: Commander's Intent in the Air Land Battle (AD-A234 125) Combined Joint Task Forces (CJTF) and contemporary types of missions such as Peace Operations require diverse component forces that serve a multitude of roles, often bringing together non-U.S. Forces, private volunteer organizations, and other government agencies. Coordination and cohesion among these various agencies have proven difficult for CJTF operations. Effective creation and application of the Commander's intent (CI) may prove to be the glue which holds component forces together and ensures mission effectiveness. This monograph addresses issues concerning the concept of commander's intent and how it is addressed in Army doctrine. The paper begins with a discussion of the theory of decentralized command, highlighting the significance of commander's intent and providing three essential requirements for successfully implementing an effective decentralized system of command. In addition, the author reviews a historical precedent for commander's intent. Finally, the author provides a detailed survey of existing Army doctrinal literature highlighting numerous inconsistencies among the various publications, and identifying deviations of the current Army doctrine from both the historical and theoretical precedents.