Which statement is true about command responsibility and supervisory responsibility?

• A. They are inherent in command and cannot be delegated.
• B. They can be delegated to subordinates.
• C. They apply only to nonexpendable property.
• D. They apply only to individuals in the direct chain of command.

Answer: (A)

Command responsibility and supervisory responsibility are personal obligations tied to holding a command. They are inherent to the position and cannot be fully handed off to someone else. You may delegate tasks, authority, and day-to-day duties to subordinates, but the ultimate accountability for proper property management, oversight, and compliance rests with the commander. If something goes wrong—property is mishandled, controls fail, or supervision is inadequate—the commander bears the responsibility and must ensure corrective actions and proper internal controls.

This means it isn’t accurate to say these duties can be transferred to subordinates as if they were no longer the leader’s burden. It’s also not limited to nonexpendable property, since accountability spans all property under command, and it isn’t restricted only to individuals in the direct chain of command, because the accountability and the duty to oversee flow through the command structure.