Chapter II - Domestic CBRN CM (3) Command Relationships: (D) Achieving Unity of Effort Without Unity of Command: (2) National response doctrine in the NRF identifies unity of effort through unified command as one of its five key principles for the federal interagency/state/local/tribal response. Effective unified command is indispensable to response activities and requires a clear understanding of the roles and responsibilities of each participating organization. Success requires unity of effort, which respects the chain of command of each participating organization while harnessing seamless coordination across jurisdictions in support of common objectives. Use of the incident command system (ICS) is an important element across multi-jurisdictional or multiagency incident management activities. It provides a structure to enable agencies with different legal, jurisdictional, and functional responsibilities to coordinate, plan, and interact effectively on scene. The ICS unified command concept is distinct from the military chain of command construct of unity of command and, as such, military forces do not operate under the authority of the incident commander or under the ICS unified command structure. As a team effort, unified command allows all agencies with jurisdictional authority and/or functional responsibility for the incident to provide joint support through mutually developed incident objectives and strategies established at the command level. Each participating agency maintains its own authority, responsibility, and accountability. NIMS supports response through the following elements of unified command: developing a single set of objectives; using a collective, strategic approach; improving information flow and coordination; creating common understanding of joint priorities and restrictions; ensuring that no agency's legal authorities are compromised or neglected; and optimizing the combined efforts of all agencies under a single plan