On October 31, 2014, the US Army Training and Doctrine Command published The US Army Operating Concept: Win in a Complex World (AOC). The purpose of the document is to establish the azimuth for the future US Army as the war in Iraq ended with the closure of Operation New Dawn and the withdrawal of US forces continues in Afghanistan. Being best prepared for the next first battle is a challenge that has faced militaries throughout history. The soldiers in the US Civil War used the analogy of 'seeing the elephant' to describe the difficulty in visualizing battle; one cannot fully understand battle until one is involved in battle. However, it is the duty of the military to attempt to 'see the elephant' as clearly as possible ahead of time. An essential capability is Mission Command. The central idea of the AOC further develops the priority of Mission Command when it directed, "Forces tailored rapidly to the mission exercise mission command and integrate joint, interorganizational, and multinational capabilities." The philosophy and system of mission command, when exercised in balance, provides US Army leaders the agility and adaptability to 'see the elephant' sooner when the next first battle arrives.

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