2-101. The mission is the task, together with the purpose, that clearly indicates the action to be taken and the reason therefore (JP 3-0). Commanders analyze a mission based on their higher commander’s intent, specified tasks, and implied tasks. Results of that analysis yield the essential task—the task that when executed accomplishes the mission. The essential task becomes the “what” of the mission statement—a clear statement of the action to be taken and the reason for taking it. The five elements of a mission statement answer these questions: