Alliance members set as Commanders used to be able to see troop movements by other members. My alliance found that very useful, especially for scouts. However, I am reliably informed (http://www.totemtribe.com/bugs/view/commanders-cannot-see-moving-troops/l) that that was a bug, not a feature, and it has definitely been "corrected".
What is the POINT of Commanders not being able to see the alliance's troops? Surely that's what being a Commander ought to be all about!