Staff (military)

From the earliest days of conflict, leaders had staff assistants, if only to hand them the next rock to throw at the mammoth. As man's ability to kill grew, so did the need for assistance to leaders. Still, for centuries, a military staff was organized around an individual, rather than in a systematic way.

One of the challenges of discussing the development of modern staff concepts is separating them from operational warfare, as true staffs emerged at roughly the same time as the corps level of organization, historically the first level that could force battle to be conducted at a particular place, time, and set of condition. While the technology of current units can put the operational role at a considerably lower level, the challenge remains. Contemporary histories tend, for example, to intermix accounts of Napoleon's use of corps with his use of a staff.

A sub-article discusses the historical development of military staffs.

Staff leadership

The concept of a formal "chief of staff" is rarely present until a unit is led by a general officer (i.e., division-equivalent or above). Below that, the "S" organization reports to the commanding officer. Several militaries, including those of Russia and the U.S., had assistants that coordinated subgroups of the staff. In the U.S. Army, the executive officer typically was responsible for personnel and logistics (and civil affairs if present); the Soviet/Russian equivalent went by several names, but "chief of the rear" was representative. The operations officer, however, has his own section, but also oversees intelligence and communications-electronics,

General vs. special staff

All staff officers having duties at a headquarters and not included in the general (coordinating) staff group or in the personal staff group. The special staff includes certain technical specialists and heads of services, e.g., quartermaster officer, antiaircraft officer, transportation officer, etc

Levels of staff

Subdivisions of a staff are usually identified by a letter and number. The letter indicates the level of organization with which the staff is associated. While the boundaries of a level may vary, common NATO levels are:

• S: Battalion through brigade
• G: Division through army; assumes a single military service
• J: Joint command, containing elements from multiple services
• C: Coalition command, with elements from different countries

Traditional divisions of a general staff

G-1: Personnel and administration

This branch is responsible for tracking the number and status of personnel in the unit, replacing or augmenting manpower, individual training, awards and decorations, etc.

G-2: Intelligence (and security)

An intelligence staff both produces analyses and other reports, and frequently has intelligence collection units reporting to it. While a battalion-level S-2 intelligence section may consist only of an intelligence officer and an intelligence sergeant, the higher in the command hierarchy in which this branch appears, the more likely it is that it will have sections for the major parts of the intelligence cycle:

• Collection and processing
• Analysis
• Dissemination
• Security

In highly technical militaries, there is a trend to have more and more collection capability in lower-level units, since lower-level units are more likely to fight operational warfare and thus need to do their own short-term collection. At a minimum, the intelligence branch has operational control of reconnaisance/scouting units. Such units historically have been specialist ground troops, but there is a strong tendency to have, at a minimum, an unmanned aerial vehicle aerial reconnaissance capability to provide imagery intelligence. The branch frequently will control at least a basic signals intelligence capability, which, at least, has direction finding, security monitoring of one's own communications, operation of secure communications to higher-level intelligence, and HUMINT/counterintelligence specialists.

It will participate in an intelligence collection planning process, with higher-echelon intelligence units, to determine which unit and technology will cover which aspects of the enemy. As with Eurocorps, there may be an explicit planning cell.

Even if G-3 controls the situation map, G-2 is responsible for the information on that map that pertains to enemy forces. The intelligence branch will present frequent and periodic summaries of enemy force status, and, where appropriate, movements and intentions.

Special Security

In a combat organization, the intelligence branch is most likely to handle material within compartmented control systems, and thus it is a logical place for the Special Security Office(r), responsible for such information, and, if the headquarters needs one, a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF). The SCIF will contain intelligence communictions systems, and be restricted to staff cleared for SCI; the U.S. slang term for the operations in a SCIF is "behind the green door".

Clandestine human-source intelligence, complementing the less sensitive prisoner interrogration and other human-source intelligence functions, is apt to be one of these sensitive areas. In U.S. doctrine, there will be HUMINT control function identified by an "X" suffix to the C/J/G-2 level (e.g., G-2X) and a HUMINT operations cell (HOC) at brigade and above, and Operational Management Team at battalion.

MI Company in a BCT

U.S. Brigade Combat Teams now contains both a Military Intelligence (MI) company and an RSTA Squadron, all reporting to S-2, with information distribution through such things as Force XXI Battle Command, Brigade and Below ([FBCB.sup.2]) system will exponentially increase our requirement to process and analyze information. Once the Army has fully fielded the system, every vehicle and dismounted soldier outfitted with it becomes a collector and can report information digitally.

ISR Analysis Platoon

focuses on receiving, processing, fusing, and analyzing information originating from both organic collectors and theater, joint, and national agencies and organizations. It is extremely reliant on higher headquarters to provide long-term detailed analysis, tailored IPB (intelligence preparation of the battlefield) products focused at the entity level, and access to distributed databases and products.

ISR Integration Platoon

• ISR Requirements Section provides requirements management through the development and dynamic execution of the ISR plan. This plan does not solely focus on traditional intelligence collection systems. Every soldier on the battlefield is now a potential collector and they are included in the plan, in addition to
  • Counterbattery radars
  • Ground reconnaissance squads using the Long-Range Advanced Scout Surveillance System (LRAS3).
  • UAVs with IMINT and SIGINT, plus communications relay
  • Prophet ground signals intelligence (SIGINT) system.
  • Ground surveillance radars (GSRs).
  • REMBASS II (replaces the I-REMBASS (Improved-Remotely Monitored Battlefield Sensor System) in the BCT).

• The S2X Section provides HUMINT management by synchronizing and deconflicting organic collection efforts with theater and national HUMINT agencies to ensure the full coordination of the HUMINT aspects of the ISR plan.

• The CGS Team provides the BCT with a rapidly deployable, mobile, and responsive intelligence processing capability. It also supports the SR integration effort by providing visibility on the location and focus of the Joint STARS (Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System) and UAV systems. The Common Ground System receives, stores, processes, correlates, disseminates, and displays in near-real time the radar imagery from the U.S. Air Force E-8 Joint STARS aircraft providing the deep and wide ground picture. The CGS simultaneously displays-
  • Collateral-level SIGINT reports received from the Intelligence Broadcast Service (IBS) via its Joint Tactical Terminal (JTT).
  • Video imagery and telemetry from Army and Air Force UAVs.
  • Imagery products from U-2 and Airborne Reconnaissance Low (ARL) platforms.
  • Fire-control radar freeze-frame pictures from AH-64 Apache Longbow sensors

Tactical HUMINT Platoon

composed of four organic teams of four soldiers each. Every team has three 97E (Human Intelligence Collector) and one 97B (Counterintelligence Agent) soldiers to provide a combination of HUMINT and CI expertise. Four additional teams will augment the four organic teams once they know the area of operations. This ensures the appropriate linguist skills are available upon deployment.

The BCT Intelligence Structure: RSTA Squadron

The most unique aspect of the IBCT is the formation of an organization dedicated to information collection and support to SA. Unlike existing brigades, it has a Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition (RSTA) Squadron composed of three Ground Reconnaissance Troops and a Surveillance Troop. The Reconnaissance Troops provide conventional ground reconnaissance enhanced with LRAS3 sensors and organic mortars for self-protection. Most interesting is the formation of a Surveillance Troop composed of a Troop headquarters (commanded by an MI Captain) and three platoons: a UAV Reconnaissance Platoon, a Ground Sensor Platoon, and an NBC (nuclear, biological and chemical) Reconnaissance Platoon (not addressed here).

The UAV Reconnaissance Platoon provides the IBCT with an organic RSTA capability. Although the platoon is part of the RSTA Squadron, it will provide electro-optical, infrared, and communications-relay support to the BCT commander.

A significant new idea is the formation of a Ground Sensor Platoon. This organization is a start toward a future capability that provides the ability to monitor multiple ground sensors remotely from a single receive suite. For example, the radar and REMBASS II sensors can be anywhere on the battlefield and we can remotely receive the digital signals from the sensors. Those sensors are now hand-emplaced but in the future, their emplacement could be from the air or by robotic platforms. Today, the ground sensor platoon includes three squads containing a Prophet ground SIGINT team and a consolidated GSR and REMBASS II team. While the objective is to combine all three receiver-processors into one package allowing an operator to receive, process, and fuse three distinct collection results on a single processor remotely from the sensor, today we have two separate systems. Prophet will receive the SIGINT information, while another system will receive and process the data of the radar and REMBASS II sensors.

Special Forces units may be augmented with two-man HUMINT/CI teams. They also can have SIGINT augmentation.

G-3: Operations

Responsible for unit, as opposed to individual training, and the mobilization and deployment of units for combat. Ground units frequently have a deputy for air support.

Eurocorps divides the G-3 function into five branches, which can split into more cells under crisis conditions.

G3 Plans

As opposed to a Plans and Policy staff division, which is typically the J-5 at a higher headquarters, G-3 plans is responsible for short-term operational procedures, guidance, and specific plans. These include: co-ordination of all operational short-term planning and all operational guidelines, manuals and Standard Operating *close, deep and rear operations by conventional forces.

• special operations
• information operations (IO). In Eurocorps, this is normally divided into a psychological operations and an information operations cell, while U.S. doctrine has psychological operations as a subgroup of IO

"The G3 Branch’s brains are tasked with foreseeing operations in the future and thinking over all possible ways of action within the very strict frame of order writing...The G3 Plans section manages the Decision-Making Process (DMP) and the Corps Battle Rhythm. The co-operation, co-ordination and liaison with the higher echelon, LNOs to the HQ EC, Air and Naval Component are conducted within G3 Plans.

G3 Training and Exercises

This branch prepares both command post and troop exercises, as well as budgeting for training and supervising the execution of exercises.

G3 Operations

G-3 operations maintains the "big picture" for the commander and staff, and communicates status and actions within the Eurocorps headquarters, to subordinate units, and to external headquarters and organizations that need such information. It operates the Main and Alternate command post, and also manages alerting and mobilization. In Eurocorps, it is responsible for force protection through the Military Police Staff Officer/Force Protection Officer, while [[force The primary functions of G3 Operations are the maintenance and promulgation of a common operating picture, both within the headquarters and externally, and the conduct of the current battle. It contains:

• Alert & Mobilization cell
• Home Base Ops Centre cell
• OPSCEN cell
• Military Police & Force Protection cell.

G3 Fire Support Co-Ordination Centre

Two major areas fall under this branch, working closely with the G-3 Air. First, it is responsible for the overall coordination of land, air, and naval fires in support of maneuver. It also plans both lethal and non-lethal (e.g., information operations fires in support of operations, and does the targeting for those fires. The section is organised in the following sub-cells:

• Command
• Operations
• Plans
• Targeting.

A good definition of fires

Fires are not limited only to strikes against fielded enemy units, but they encompass a broad spectrum of targets that attacks all of the enemy's centers of gravity such as: the enemy’s leadership; infrastructure and key production components (transportation, energy, command control communications computers and intelligence (C4I), nuclear biological and chemical (NBC, also known as weapons of mass destruction or WMD), theater ballistic missiles (TBMs) war-making industries and non-lethal methods targeted at the population. Effective joint fires produce effects beyond the proportion of effort expended in execution. Joint fires are long term efforts that have both immediate and long term effects on the enemy's capability and will to prosecute the war.

"The G3 is COMUSARCENT’s executive agent for Deep Operations, with a 96-hour planning cycle and 72-hour targeting cycle. All other ARCENT staff sections are responsible for coordinating Deep Operations actions with the G3. Within the G3 is the Deep Operations Division (DOCC)

• coordinates targeting guidance and objectives
• develops a candidate target list for integration with the air tasking order (ATO)
• monitors ATO execution
• fire support coordination measures.

The DOCC is divided into five branches:

• Deep Operations Branch consist of
  • Plans
  • Target Development
  • Operations [OPS]

The Operations Section (OPS) is responsible for battle management within the DOCC for ATOs which are 48 and 24 hours out from execution. This includes monitoring the development of the ATO, other planned deep operations, and coordinating the complementary actions required to support the land component commander guidance and intent.

1. Prepare Air Interdiction (AI) divert list based on targeting guidance changes (24-48 hour time period)
2. Integrate Theater Missile Defense (TMD) Attack Operations with deep battle operations
3. Receive and parse the Air Tasking Order (ATO) / conduct ATO hand over briefing with the FSE
4. Receive feedback from the BCD on LCC AI nominations submitted to the C/JFACC
5. Assess the Commander’s guidance and objectives through the Combat Assessment Board
6. Develop operational fires FRAGOs.

• Electronic Warfare (EW) Branch; attack and deconfliction
• Command and Control Warfare (C2W) Branch (i.e., information operations less PSYOP)
• PSYOP Branch;
• Fire Support Element (FSE): This is gthe current operations cell, which coordinates:"Based on the current **"diverts" (re-directing airborne aircraft from striking one target to striking another higher priority target), **"re-roles" (changing the mission (CAS, AI, etc) of airborne aircraft to attack a new set of targets).
  • adjudicator of CAS allocations for subordinate ground forces which involves shifting assets as necessary to support the different MSC fights.
  • Attack of Time Sensitive Targets (TSTs) is a FSE function. ...Attack of TSTs is solely driven by the asset that can service it in the most expedient manner, usually aircraft or ATACMS."

G3 Air

This staff section interfaces among the organic aviation and air defense units, as well as airspace management to deconflict aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles from higher headquarters or the supporting Air Force components.

G-4: Logistics

While the units under the control of G-2 may be small enough for direct reporting, the massive organizations needed for logistics may necessitate separating the logistics section of the staff from the logistics support command, which has its own staff, organized for its needs. In Eurocorps, the logistics division of the main staff has the branches:

• G4 Operations: responsible for presentation of logistic situation to the Commanding General, and running the appropriate information sysetms. It also issues logistic orders and guidelines for subordinate units and tasks EC Log Corps troops.
• G4 Plans manages the whole planning, command and logistic policy. To check the relevance of the concepts and procedures created by the section, it regularly organizes or takes part in seminars to share information and ideas with other High Readiness Force HQs. In peacetime it is responsible for developing logistics-related concepts and SOPs.

• G4 Movement and Transport Section plans the detailed deployment plan for HQ Eurocorps and the Multinational Command Support Brigade from the garrison to the area of operations. It complements the operational and tactical movements under G-3,

• G4 Reception, Staging and Onwards Movements section develops the RSOM plans. It is responsible for co-ordinating the RSOM process of Eurocorps from the port of debarkation to the area of operations with the Troop Contributing Nations, the Host Nation and the superior headquarters including NATO HQs. In peacetime, it is responsible for developing the RSOM concept and related Standard Operating Procedures.

• G4 Medical is responsible for the planning and co-ordination of medical support throughout the Corps' area of operations. In Europcorps, the Chief of this section is the Medical Adviser (MEDAD) to the Commanding General. In the U.S., the unit Command Surgeon (i.e., senior medical officer) is also a member of the Commanding General's special staff. As with logistics staff versus logistic commands, medical services will usually have field and evacuation hospitals, public health specialists, etc. that are in the operational logistics organization rather than the main staff, although some specialists may be "dual-hatted".

G-5: Plans and Policy

While "5" has, historically, contained civil affairs, that function increasingly moves to a branch of its own, under civil-military operations. In Eurocorps specifically, G-5 both plans Eurocorps operations, but also deals with higher headquarters and the constituent nations.

• G-5 Plans Section: planning of future operations. In peacetime however, it also contributes to the general specifications for exercises, participates in exercise planning conferences.

• G-5 Policy and Studies Section: This section turns the Commanding General's guidance and directives into Standing Operating Procedures, conducts ad hoc studies for the Command group and ensures a staff-wide co-ordination and integration of policy aspects into planning.

• G-5 Operational Analysis and Requirements (OPAR) Section: This section is responsible for the evaluation of the exercises in which Eurocorps is taking part. In operations, OPAR also prepares the Statements of Requirement and monitors the force generation process outside HQ EC. In addition, the section is in charge of the identification, collection, assessment and implementation of Lessons Learned during exercises and operations and deals with the "War gaming" phase of the OPP.

• G-5 International Relations Section: This section establishes and sustains relationships with NATO, other multinational HQs, the EC's Framework Nations and other Sending Nations, the UN, the OSCE and the European Union. While the section provides the EC's secretary for both POLMIL and MIL Group meetings, ACOS G5 and the members of the international relations section are the Commanding General's official representatives in these groups and represent the EC's official positions and interests.

G-6: Communications-Electronics

Consequently, G6 contributes to create the conditions that make possible:

• The deployment of the dedicated command and control information systems (CCIS) capabilities, adapted to the Eurocorps' organisation, in order to contribute to the setting-up of command posts in a joint environment, and providing all kinds of information exchange requirements, including multimedia services (Internet, mail, VTC, etc.), and simulation and staff training.
• The top-to-bottom flow of information, by establishing a tactical area communication system, using the trunk nodal network, SATCOM assets, and combat network radio capabilities.
• The establishment of an adequate Information Security (INFOSEC) policy, that, in accordance with the level of risk, imply the adoption of computer security (COMPUSEC) and communications security (COMSEC) measures.

Information Management co-ordinates the availability of information for all concerned people of Headquarters Eurocorps. The function is divided to DOS who provides the policy of the Chief of Staff, G3 who gives operational inputs and G-6 who is responsible for the technical realisation inside the office equipment of all HQ EC, such as EC LAN, software, networks of different levels and Functional Area Subsystem

Divisions without standardized numbers

Budget (Eurocorps G-8)

Placed here is the preparation of the multinational communally funded Eurocorps (EC) budget, as well as audit of financial and contracting. It provides the Headquarters with the necessary financial, audit and contracting support. The Eurocorps organization must comply with NATO, EU, and national component rules. .

Civil and Military Operations (CMO)/Civil Affairs

Purely from a historical standpoint, Civil Affairs (sometimes Civil-Military Operation) seems to have difficulty fitting into a staff. For a time, the U.S. put into branch 5, but "5" tended, at higher headquarters level, to be "Plans and Policy", complementing the short-term planning in branch 3. To further confuse it, civil-military operations is part of information operations, which is apt to be in branch 3 as well.

In Eurocorps, civil-military operations are in G-9. Especially in peace operations, a civil-military operations officer will usually be in the first staff group to arrive in the area of operations. As long as the situation is not a "hot war" respons, G-9 needs to get in early, and establish and maintain relationship with the non-military actors in the AO:

• civilian authorities of the host nation
• the international and non-governmental organizations
• all other stakeholders acting in the area of operation including the most important one: the population
• the most delicate: opposition or insurgent forces.

Again part of information operations is public affairs, which also can be called "white propaganda", or official and acknowledged announcements. CMO strives to get a widely accepted understanding of the role of the military force. It may go beyond information into mediation and other forms of confict resolution.

CMO can call on the force to assist in actions to assist the civilian population, subject to overriding tactical needs and budget/contracting guidance:

• Logistics: assets for refugees or displaced persons
• Engineer expertise on mines (de-mining, mine awareness) or request the execution of projects like repairing buildings, restoring electricity, water supply and so on.
• Medical: deal with public health problems
• Legal: help with interpretations of agreements, and, where appropriate, draft new ones where there are new stakeholders
• Military police: restoring civil order

In order to fulfil their diverse tasks during operations, G9 is organized in three sections in peacetime (operation, plans/assessment and liaison).

Even in peacetime, it is of utmost importance for the eight officers and four non-commissioned officers to establish contacts with other CIMIC units at NATO or national level and with members of international and non-governmental organizations.