--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is absolutely bedrock to the British…" description: "\"It is absolutely bedrock to the British Army's philosophy that a commanding officer is responsible for what goes on within his command.\" — Mike Jackson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/mike-jackson-22280_army_it-is-absolutely-bedrock-to-the-british_2062888.jpg" --- # It is absolutely bedrock to the British Army's philosophy… ![“It is absolutely bedrock to the British Army's philosophy that a commanding officer is responsible for what goes on within his command.” quote by Mike Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/mike-jackson-22280_army_it-is-absolutely-bedrock-to-the-british_2062888.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/mike-jackson-22280_army_it-is-absolutely-bedrock-to-the-british_2062888.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/mike-jackson-22280_army_it-is-absolutely-bedrock-to-the-british_2062888.jpg) > “It is absolutely bedrock to the British Army's philosophy that a commanding officer is responsible for what goes on within his command.” [Mike Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-jackson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describes the British Army's core belief that commanders are accountable for everything under their command. **In simple terms:** Command responsibility is fundamental to British Army doctrine. Key Takeaway Accept full responsibility for your team's outcomes. Themes leadership military doctrine accountability Mood analytical serious Type military leadership When to use this quote - military training - corporate management - project leadership Key Concepts command responsibility organizational ethics Questions to Reflect On - How does accountability affect decision‑making? - What limits exist on a leader’s control? A Different Perspective May be unrealistic in complex hierarchies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) [Army Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army-philosophy-3838842/) [Bedrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bedrock/) [British](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british/) [British army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/british-army/) [Command](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/command/) [Commanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commanding/) [Commanding Officer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commanding-officer-1121574/) [Goes on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goes-on/) [His](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/his/) [Officer Responsible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/officer-responsible-3944267/) [Officers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/officers/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Philosophy Commanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-commanding-3944266/) [Responsible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsible/) [Within](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/within/) ## Related quotes > [The Three Armies can be deprived of their commanding officer, but even a common man cannot be deprived of his purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-three-armies-can-be-deprived-of-their-commanding-officer-but-even/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [I was commanding officer of a supersonic fighter squadron, F-8 Crusaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-stockdale/i-was-commanding-officer-of-a-supersonic-fighter-squadron-f-8/) [James Stockdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-stockdale/) > [The same advice my commanding officer at Patrol Squadron 17, Cmdr. Robert J. Quinn, gave me before I was grilled to be given the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-olson/the-same-advice-my-commanding-officer-at-patrol-squadron-17-cmdr/) [Pete Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-olson/) > [“Love can be like a commanding officer. It's unfair, random, cruel, but it gets you through the war, somehow, gets you where you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-voinov/love-can-be-like-a-commanding-officer-it-s-unfair-random-cruel-but-it/) [Aleksandr Voinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-voinov/) > [My Name is Major Benson Winifred Payne. As of 0800, I am replacing Major Frankfurt as your commanding officer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-wayans/my-name-is-major-benson-winifred-payne-as-of-0800-i-am-replacing/) [Damon Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-wayans/) > [It is made the duty of every Commanding Officer in the Department, to arrest and send to these Headquarters, under guard, every officer or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-made-the-duty-of-every-commanding-officer-in-the-department-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The one officer responsible above all others for the development of Blitzkrieg tactics was General Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmit-mahlke/the-one-officer-responsible-above-all-others-for-the-development-of/) [Helmit Mahlke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmit-mahlke/) > [“Philosophy doesn’t travel at the same speed technology does. It takes a man forty years to realize what it took his father forty years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-malerman/philosophy-doesn-t-travel-at-the-same-speed-technology-does-it-takes/) [Josh Malerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-malerman/) > [“The philosophical arguments in favor of man’s ability to resist the slide into barbarism sound noble and rational in a classroom or at a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-downs/the-philosophical-arguments-in-favor-of-man-s-ability-to-resist-the/) [Frederick Downs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-downs/) > [He loved telling stories. He had been everywhere in the world. The northwest frontier, the landscape of the Hindu Kush, was one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-barry/he-loved-telling-stories-he-had-been-everywhere-in-the-world-the/) [Sebastian Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-barry/) > [“The British Army and Navy sang a rousing song called "Heart of Oak"; the rebels had writ one to counter it called "The Liberty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/the-british-army-and-navy-sang-a-rousing-song-called-heart-of-oak-the/) [M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/) > [“In defense of King, country, and family, he would unhesitatingly have sacrificed his virtue to Nessie, had that been required. If it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/in-defense-of-king-country-and-family-he-would-unhesitatingly-have/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I never talk about shooting anybody, but I do acknowledge I was a member of the IRA, and as a member of the IRA,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/i-never-talk-about-shooting-anybody-but-i-do-acknowledge-i-was-a/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [I lost a lot of friends at the hands of the British Army. The person who actually introduced me to my wife, Colm Keenan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/i-lost-a-lot-of-friends-at-the-hands-of-the-british-army-the-person/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [“Bram stared into a pair of wide, dark eyes. Eyes that reflected a surprising glimmer of intelligence. This might be the rare female a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/bram-stared-into-a-pair-of-wide-dark-eyes-eyes-that-reflected-a/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) ## More by Mike Jackson > [Well, the U.N. Security Council resolution 1973 is very clear. It says all necessary measures to be taken to protect civilians and civilian areas.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-jackson/well-the-u-n-security-council-resolution-1973-is-very-clear-it-says/) [Mike Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-jackson/) > [Soldiering is a very important profession, is it not?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-jackson/soldiering-is-a-very-important-profession-is-it-not/) [Mike Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-jackson/) > [Military operations cannot be tidy or free of friction - particularly in a coalition whose contributing nations see the campaign through national prisms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-jackson/military-operations-cannot-be-tidy-or-free-of-friction-particularly/) [Mike Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-jackson/) > [“Postponing taking action on difficult decisions that you’ve already made will only make the problem worse. Strong”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-jackson/postponing-taking-action-on-difficult-decisions-that-you-ve-already/) [Mike Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-jackson/) > [Look, we're living in a crazy time right now. There's a lot of craziness going on in the world and in the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-jackson/look-we-re-living-in-a-crazy-time-right-now-there-s-a-lot-of/) [Mike Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-jackson/) > [The system is broken, and we can fix it. It's not hard. We just have to do the work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-jackson/the-system-is-broken-and-we-can-fix-it-it-s-not-hard-we-just-have-to/) [Mike Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-jackson/) > [If you move between battalions, you are still within the same tribe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-jackson/if-you-move-between-battalions-you-are-still-within-the-same-tribe/) [Mike Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-jackson/) > [“Discipline is the bridge between goals and achievement.” The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-jackson/discipline-is-the-bridge-between-goals-and-achievement-the/) [Mike Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-jackson/) > [You know, never say never.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-jackson/you-know-never-say-never/) [Mike Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-jackson/) > [Everything starts and finishes with the soldier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-jackson/everything-starts-and-finishes-with-the-soldier/) [Mike Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-jackson/) > [I think a lot of people think that just because you have a celebrity attached to your company, that all things are easy. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-jackson/i-think-a-lot-of-people-think-that-just-because-you-have-a-celebrity/) [Mike Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-jackson/) > [“Jumping, waving arms, cheering, laughing, head-butting him in the groin, an unfortunate ritual in the Tanner home, very much unappreciated by Jim, but tolerated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-jackson/jumping-waving-arms-cheering-laughing-head-butting-him-in-the-groin/) [Mike Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-jackson/) > [The Russians are a very sentimental people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-jackson/the-russians-are-a-very-sentimental-people/) [Mike Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-jackson/) > [Nations, not least America, retain full command of their national forces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-jackson/nations-not-least-america-retain-full-command-of-their-national-forces/) [Mike Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-jackson/) > [I understand all the problems for the Ministry of Defence, of course I do; working within a budget and trying to do so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-jackson/i-understand-all-the-problems-for-the-ministry-of-defence-of-course-i/) [Mike Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-jackson/) [Explore all 27 Mike Jackson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-jackson/) ## More Army quotes > [There are no more worlds to conquer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/there-are-no-more-worlds-to-conquer/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Every army in the history of the world has always had some deserters, usually much greater than we have today, because once again every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-hilferty/every-army-in-the-history-of-the-world-has-always-had-some-deserters/) [Bryan Hilferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-hilferty/) > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/) [Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/) > [I just read an article about how young American males feel uncomfortable appearing naked in front of each other in locker rooms. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ivory/i-just-read-an-article-about-how-young-american-males-feel/) [James Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ivory/) > [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“The most important lesson that came out of Vietnam for me was that Marines take care of Marines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-clancy/the-most-important-lesson-that-came-out-of-vietnam-for-me-was-that/) [Tom Clancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-clancy/) > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I have real strong feelings about our troops and support them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-fichtner/i-have-real-strong-feelings-about-our-troops-and-support-them/) [William Fichtner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-fichtner/) > [Personally, I don't really have a set style or look. It's pretty much what I feel like wearing that day, from a floral-print dress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shay-mitchell/personally-i-don-t-really-have-a-set-style-or-look-it-s-pretty-much/) [Shay Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shay-mitchell/) > [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/) [Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/) > [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/) [William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/) > [Thanks to all members of the military around the world for giving me the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/thanks-to-all-members-of-the-military-around-the-world-for-giving-me/) [Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/) [Browse all 3,919 Army quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/army/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is absolutely bedrock to the British Army's philosophy that a commanding officer is responsible for what goes on within his command.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mike Jackson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-jackson/it-is-absolutely-bedrock-to-the-british-army-s-philosophy-that-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Army" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-jackson/it-is-absolutely-bedrock-to-the-british-army-s-philosophy-that-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/mike-jackson-22280_army_it-is-absolutely-bedrock-to-the-british_2062888.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/mike-jackson-22280_army_it-is-absolutely-bedrock-to-the-british_2062888.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/mike-jackson-22280_army_it-is-absolutely-bedrock-to-the-british_2062888.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is absolutely bedrock to the British Army's philosophy that a commanding officer is responsible for what…” — Mike Jackson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Mike Jackson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-jackson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is absolutely bedrock to the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-jackson/it-is-absolutely-bedrock-to-the-british-army-s-philosophy-that-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-jackson/it-is-absolutely-bedrock-to-the-british-army-s-philosophy-that-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```