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Staff Officer Coordination

USAMPS Captain’s Career Course

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To outline common responsibilities and duties ofstaff officers and to identify effective staff

coordination techniques.

Purpose

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References

• Field Manual (FM) 5-0,

• Army Regulation (AR) 25-50,Military Writing

• 52d Infantry Division & Fort Riley 25-50(Staff Officers Guide)

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Outline

• Staff officer characteristics• The staff’s role• Staff actions• Responsibilities and duties• Staff coordination• Keys to coordination• Coordination “must do’s”• Staff pitfalls• Summary• Questions• Conclusions

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• A good staff officer should possess anddemonstrate:

- CompetenceCompetence - FlexibilityFlexibility

- Initiative and judgment - Confidence

- Creativity

- Loyalty

StaffCharacteristics

(1 of 2)

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• In addition, a good staff officer is :

- A team player

- An effective manager

- An effective communicator- An effective communicator

StaffCharacteristics

(2 of 2)

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•The commander is responsible for all that his staffdoes or fails to do, but…………...

• The staff’s job is to:

- Assist the commander in providing leadership,direction, and guidance.

- Communicate the commander’s intent ordecisions either verbally or in writing. - Be an extension of the commander.

The Staff’s Role

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Staff Actions

• Staff actions can be: - Estimate development

- Conferences

- Inspections

- Briefings

- Research

Bottom Line: Any activity conducted by a staffBottom Line: Any activity conducted by a staffofficer at the direction of the commander is aofficer at the direction of the commander is a“Staff Action.”“Staff Action.”

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Responsibilities andDuties

• At a minimum you will be expected to :

- Advise and provide information

- Produce staff estimates

- Conduct staff writing

- Monitor execution of decisions - ExecuteExecute problem solvingproblem solving - Leverage technology

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• A good staff and staff officer should:

- Continuously provide information to thecommander.

- Advise the commander and staff on- Advise the commander and staff oncapabilities, limitations and requirements.capabilities, limitations and requirements.

- Help the commander see the “battlefield.”

- Inform and advise the commander ondirectives and policy guidance.

Advise and ProvideInformation

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Production of StaffEstimates

• Estimates assist the commander in decisionmaking.

• A staff estimate consists of significant facts, events,conclusions and recommendations.

• Adequate plans hinge on early and continuingestimate updates.• Failure to make or update estimates may lead toFailure to make or update estimates may lead toerrors or omissions.errors or omissions.

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• Writing is a means of communicating ideas to thecommander, subordinate unit commanders, andother staff officers.

• Staff officers must be able to prepare a variety ofwritten products.

• Effective staff writing should convey the writer’sexact meaning and not be subject tomisinterpretation.

•• Briefings, electronic mail Briefings, electronic mail, staff papers, reports,and summaries are methods to write anddisseminate information.

Staff Writing

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• Staff officers must analyze and clearlyarticulate information.

• The problem and the main issues determinewhat kind of information is collected.

• The staff must rapidly process and providecritical elements of information to thecommander.

• Valid conclusions are relevant to the topic andsupported by data.

• Staff officers cannot be just data collectors andStaff officers cannot be just data collectors andtransmitters.transmitters.

Problem Solving

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Leveraging Technology

• E-Mail

• Powerpoint

• ABCS

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StaffCoordination

• Coordination is a systematic way of communicating.

• It is the integrating function in management and is vital to any planned activity.

• A staff officer must have a thorough understanding of the commander’s intent.

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Keys To Coordination

• Build your reputation through competence.Build your reputation through competence.• Build relationships with subject matter experts and professionals.• Deliver on promises.• Treat others courteously, especially administrative Treat others courteously, especially administrative personnel.personnel.• If people deny your requests, thank them anyway;you may need their assistance later.

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- Observe what is going on around you.- Find out who is making things happen.- Get a copy of the organization or installationGet a copy of the organization or installationstaff officer’s guidestaff officer’s guide..

• As soon as you begin a new job, you must:

Coordination “Must Do’s”

• Review:

- The organization’s mission statement.- Organization and Functions Manual- Office filesOffice files

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Pitfalls

• Ineffective effort

• Inefficient effort

• Wasted effort

• Uninformed decision making

• Diminished reputationDiminished reputation

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Summary

- Flexibility- Flexibility• Staff Officer Characteristics

• The Staff’s Role

• Responsibilities and Duties

• Staff Coordination

• Staff Pitfalls

- Communicate intent or decisions- Communicate intent or decisions

- Problem solving- Problem solving

- Build your reputation through competence.- Build your reputation through competence.

- Diminished reputation- Diminished reputation

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Questions

?

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Conclusion

“The staff officer should always seek to get completely into the mind of his or her commander...and normally there is plenty of room.”

Anon