Mission

Purpose: We are a premier operational Task Force (combined CSG 8 Staff) that exists to direct and support submarines in EUCOM / AFRICOM to execute national and theater tasking throughout all levels of conflict.

End State: An operationally effective Task Force (combined CSG 8 Staff) team built on cohesion, commitment, competence, and trust. Sailors who know what's right, want to do what's right, and then do the right thing.. .every time.

Method: We will prepare, fight, and win by integrating two vital components: SKILL and WILL.

Skill: We master the skills of our profession that enable us to accomplish our mission, both at sea and in the headquarters. We will be true subject matter experts in our skill areas and undersea warfare. Study maritime warfare to understand how our Task Force operates below the level of armed conflict and in battle. Understand the tenets of good staff work.

Will: Developing the spirit of the Sailors in the Task Force to recognize the key roles they play in submarine safety and mission success. Know your men, women, and their families and look after their welfare. Establish conditions for your Sailors to develop character and competence professionally and personally everyday.

We will create conditions for units to succeed. The Task Force only succeeds through the success of our submarines. Our staff focus will be to prioritize and create conditions for them to succeed. We must win their trust and confidence. Therefore, look up, but focus down. Find a way to support requests from our units - begin with an attitude of "yes we can". Only CSG 8 or I will say "no" to commanders.

We will apply Mission Command, the decentralization of control with empowered subordinates exercising initiative in accordance with the superior commander's intent. Mission command will be built on trust, understanding, and intent. We will respect the authority of the Submarine Commanding Officer.

We will establish trust. Talk straight, demonstrate respect, create transparency, right wrongs, show loyalty, get better, confront reality, clarify expectations, practice accountability, listen first, keep commitments, and extend trust.

We will develop personal and professional relationships. Personal relationships between human beings always rule the day. Establish them early and cultivate them often, both within the Task Force staff and within your communities of practice. Harmony amongst staffs - higher, adjacent, and subordinate - is an expectation. Positive relationships with our higher headquarters will be the most beneficial to our mission accomplishment. High competence no drama.

We will strive for improvement. Seek balanced excellence. Work on your weaknesses, not your strengths. Continuously look for ways to improve processes and procedures with humility and respect. Produce quality products that have a positive effect, recognized by others, but do not shine the cannonball.

We will communicate. What do I know? Who else needs to know? Have I told them yet? Do they understand?

We will foster a positive command climate. Apply the tenets of Submarine operations to how we perform our staff responsibilities to foster a climate in which initiative, boldness and creativity will flourish. Take pride and enjoy serving in our Task Force (combined CSG 8 Staff).