Chain of command question

[pinkpops]

From the term, you would think that someone in a chain of command has links to those above and below in some orderly fashion. But is one of lesser rank always expected to follow the orders of on of higher rank, or can they say "you're not my boss"?

[DAGDA56]

1. Seems right to me...

...I always think of a vertical chain, rather than a horizontal one, or a oddly shaped combination of the two.

[forgethell]

2. well, they ARE their boss, but

they can't order them to do something against the law. Troops have the right to refuse orders to torture prisoners, for example.

On edit: But the superiors cannot go interfering with each other's commands, and a colonel would seldom give a direct order to a private. He woould give an order to his immediate subordinates, and the order would perk downhill. In ordinary circumstances. In the emergencies of war, shortcuts might be taken.

[UTUSN]

3. It Ain't a Matter of "Following Orders" -------It's

a matter of who-do-YOU-report-TO. YOU know who YOUR boss is, AND who your SUBBORDINATE is.

[Rebellious Republican]

4. Depends on how the chain is set up, it can be manipulated

so as to place the blame elsewhere! Which seems to have been nicely done in regards to the abuse, if thats where you are going.
Here is what Faux news says
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,74696,00.html

this is a no shitter, I did not make this up, if you want to know why they can not figure out who was in charge, its on the DOD website, scroll down the page and look at the flow chart...
http://www.tpub.com/content/advancement/14504/css/14504_80.htm

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

5. You are under no obligations to follow unlawful orders. In fact, you are

obligated to DISOBEY unlawful orders, such as to commit war crimes.