The chain of command is a precept used by the military to perpetuate order within a unit. It is a series of administrative or military ranks, in which each has direct authority over the one immediately below. The chain of command is set in this order: squad, platoon, company, battalion, brigade, division, corps, and finally the army. A command process refers to an information or communication process. A major principle of military success is a well operating communication network. The idea given is that all the points or people in the network are links in a chain, and for the integrity of the chain to hold up there must be no broken or missing links. The question infers that I have failed to keep my military contact informed. I have therefore caused a break or blockage in it's communication network, and I have become a problem, not an asset. I developed some confusion along the way about the desire to join the air force, and instead of approaching my team leader, I immediately went to my squad leader who had previously talked to me about the issue. I should have informed my team leader about what had happened rather then choosing to go straight to my squad leader. If I were swap positions with my team leader, I would have been exceedingly disconcerted as well. A noncommissioned officer has a duty to keep cherry privates like myself informed at all times, and it is proposed to me to conduct myself in the same way when dealing with my leader. It is a major principle and duty of every soldier to keep their chain of command knowledgable.

The chain of command also provides a way for problems to be handled at a lower level. It can also be used as a way of identifying every individuals position and what their responsibilities are. Orders are transmitted down the chain of command by a higher ranked soldier who either execute the order personally, or transmit it down the chain as appropriate, until it is received by those expected to execute it. In general, military personnel give orders only to those directly below them in the chain of command and receives only from those directly above them. A service member who has difficulty executing a duty or order and appeals for relief directly to an officer above his immediate commander in the chain of command is likely to be disciplined for not observing the chain of command. The concept of chain of command also implies that higher rank alone does not entitle a higher-ranking service member to give commands to anyone of lower rank. The chain of command means that individual member take orders from only one superior and only give orders to a defined group of people immediately below them.

When jumping chain, you risk things being blown out of proportion due to the quantity of individuals involved. When you suppress things on a lower level, limited amounts of people are informed of the issue, reducing the chances of everything becoming a he said she said battle.

Taking command of the Vance on 22 December just before Christmas 1965, he found a ship that was, in his opinion, unready for war off the coast of North Vietnam. He instituted measures to get the ship cleaned up (he stated that he had found it "crawling with cockroaches"), to get the crew trained, and to institute activities that he thought would get the crew motivated.
Unfortunately, he also had more than his share of personality quirks that led members of the crew to keep a "Mad Marcus Log". The complaints listed in the Mad Marcus Log