Staff officer
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In military organizations, a staff officer refers to an officer who fufills a special function on a staff.
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[edit] United States Army and Marine Corps
In the United States Army and Marine Corps, commanding officers at the battalion level and higher units are assigned a personal staff which includes the following key staff officer positions numbered staff one through staff four and staff six:
- S1, the unit's personnel officer
- S2, the unit's intelligence officer
- S3, the unit's operations officer
- S4, the unit's logistics officer
- S6, the unit's communications officer
These officers are normally administratively assigned to the battalion or higher level unit's headquarters and headquarters company and report directly to the unit's commanding officer. They are normally referred to in their duties as being the S1, the S2, the S3, the S4, or the S6. Additionally, each of these officers will have their own subordinate staff who helps them administer their special staff function; each of these subordinate groups is collectively referred to as the S1 section, the S2 section, and so on. Thus, a listener must use context and cues to interpret whether a speaker is referring to a given staff section as a whole, or just the key staff officer who holds the same namesake as his or her position within the unit.
At the division level and higher, the key staff positions are identified with the letter "G" instead of the letter "S"; the duty positions and sections are therefore designated the G1, the G2, the G3, the G4, and the G6. At joint command levels and higher, where multiple service branchs are unified under one command, the same duty positions and sections are designated the J1, the J2, the J3, the J4, and the J6.
[edit] S1
The S1 is the unit's personnel and administration officer, supervising the unit's personnel and administration systems. The S1 section functions as the essential administrative liaison between the subordinate units and the headquarters, handling personnel actions coming from the bottom up (such as a request for an award be given to a particular soldier) or from the top down (such as orders being received from the army level directing a particular soldier be reassigned to a new unit outside the command).
The S1 is also entrusted with the traditional role of being the commanding officer's adjutant.
[edit] S2
The S2 is the unit's intelligence officer, responsible for collecting and analyzing intelligence information about the enemy to determine what the enemy is doing, or might do, to prevent the accomplishment of the unit's mission. During wargaming and planning with the S3, the S2 assumes the role of the enemy in order to help the S3 anticipate the enemy's likely moves and thus plan the unit's combat operations to defeat the enemy. The S2 is also the unit's resident expert on researching geographical areas of interest, and seeks to answer priority information requests from the commanding officer on any intelligence issues.
The S2 is also the unit's security officer, and the S2 section manages all security clearance issues for the unit's personnel.
[edit] S3
The S3 is the unit's operations officer, which includes plans and training. As the operations officer, the S3 plans the battle and usually senior in rank to the other four staff primaries (S1, S2, S4, and S6). The S3 plans and coordinates the battle, and all things necessary to enable the unit to operate and accomplish its mission. In most units, the S3 section is the largest of the staff sections and considered the most important. All aspects of sustaining the unit's operations, planning future operations, and additionally planning and executing all unit training, fall under the responsibility of the S3.
At many unit's, the S3 aided by an assistant, the S3 Air, who coordinates the employment of close air support with the unit's fire support officer FSO (Fire support officer) and the tactical air control party. The S3 Air integrates close air support into the commanding officer's scheme of maneuver.
[edit] S4
The S4 is the unit's logistics officer, responsible for managing the unit's supply and logistical support, providing all manner of supplies such as ammunition, fuel, food, water, maintenance materials, and transportation services to the unit's subordinate units. In some units, logistical support is provided by special support and maintenance platoons under the supervision of the S4. Significant differences in the logistical capabilities of the S4 section may exist between light and heavy units.
[edit] S6
The S6 is the unit's communications officer and advises the unit's commanding officer on all communications. The S6 is the point of contact for the issue of communications instructions during operations (known as the SOI, or Signal Operating Instructions), as well as for communications troubleshooting. The S6 is also usually responsible for all electronic systems within a unit to include computers, faxes, copy machines, and phone systems. The S6 section provides training to the unit's soldiers on the use of communication equipment. In most combat service support units, the S-6 provides Information Management Officers (IMOs) who provide helpdesk and datacenter support. IMO responsibilities can range from rebuilds of operating systems, server management, desktop support, software testing, phone line and network maintenance, office equipement maintenance, and information management on networks. IMOs are appointed by commanding officers and do not necessarily need to be trained in a Signal Corp Military Occupational Specialty; IMO positions are often assigned instead as an additional duty.
[edit] United States Navy
In the United States Navy, staff officers provide specialized support to line officers and to all other persons in the organization. Staff functions in the Navy include medical, dental, legal, supply and chaplain (religious). Other military services are organized in a similar manner. See also General Staff.
[edit] Large corporations
The distinction between line and staff personnel is also used in most large corporations and large non-profit organizations. In business, line functions are usually marketing, production, human resources, information systems and research and development. Staff functions are administrative support and general counsel.
