External evaluations must be conducted by whom for a CO level mission?

• A. Brigade Commander
• B. Battalion Commander
• C. Company Commander
• D. Platoon Leader

Answer: (A)

External evaluations are performed by a senior commander who sits outside the unit’s immediate chain of command to provide an objective assessment of how a CO-level mission is executed. For a mission at the CO level, the evaluator needs authority over the units involved and a broad view that spans multiple elements, ensuring consistency, safety, and adherence to standards across the entire operation. The Brigade Commander fits this role because a brigade commands several subordinate units and can independently assess the coordination, logistics, and command decisions that a CO-level mission requires.

The other leaders listed operate within the unit’s direct command and are focused on overseeing their own formations and immediate execution, which makes their perspective more internal and less suited for an outside, standardized evaluation of the mission as a whole.