2-40. Mission command requires leaders at the lowest practical echelon to seize, retain, and exploit the initiative by directing action under varying degrees of uncertainty. Commanders seek to counter the uncertainty of an environment by empowering subordinates at the lowest level to make decisions, act, and quickly adapt to changing circumstances. These situations may lead a subordinate to deviate from the initial directive as long as it is within the desired commander’s intent. Mission command is based on mutual trust and a shared understanding of purpose among commanders, subordinates, and unified action partners. In 1941 Admiral E. J. King stressed the importance of training leaders and units in mission command: