Commander and Staff Guide to Rehearsals: A No-Fail Approach (Lessons and Best Practices Handbook)

A rehearsal is "a session in which a staff or unit practices expected actions to improve performance during execution." - FM 6-0, Mission Command: Command and Control of Army Forces Rehearsals assist units in visualizing, clarifying, and synchronizing planned critical actions before execution, and provide the commander an inperson platform to convey intent and guidance directly to subordinates. A rehearsal is an effective organizational tool in gaining support, improving strategic and operational understanding, and fostering mutual trust within a commander's sphere of control. The commander and staff are able to visualize the terrain, and enemy and friendly units arranged by military action in time, space, and purpose. Essentially, rehearsals provide a visual impression of the tactical plan to participants and the appropriate stage to act out the critical actions of an operational plan. Rehearsals are generally categorized by type and method.