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 WHAT IS STAFF DUTIES

In a headquarters the commander is the head and he has to

execute a job of work in order to implement a policy laid down by
somebody higher to him. In the process of performing his job, he needs
to be assisted by :
 Information
 Intelligence
 Statistics
 Administration
 Logistics
The duties of the staff are to gather what is required, assist the
commander in planning, and to coordinate all aspects required so that
the execution of the task becomes smoother and efficient. A staff duty
also demands the requirement of each and every staff officer to work
in close liaison with each other so that nothing is missed out. Finally,
the staff should work wholeheartedly to achieve a common aim. Staff
duties can be divided into two categories.
THE AIM OF THIS PRESENTATION IS THE AQUAINT
THE STUDENT OFFRS ON BASIC STAFF DUTIES
AND ITS ESSENTIALS
Miner staff duties. This term applies to the highly developed
procedures used by a staff officer to carry out his routine
tasks: eg. The details of layout terminology, abbreviations and
conventions which have been standardized, and including the
issue of the commanders order and the managing of a
headquarters.

Major staff duties These are the major functions of the staff:
eg. The provision of information conducted of detailed
examination of various courses of action making
recommendations and ensuring that orders are understood
and executed as intended by the commander.
 ORGANIZATION OF THE STAFF

BRANCHES OF STAFF

 In a headquarters of a division or a brigade, the staff is

divided in to the following branches and this division is based
on the type of work handled by the particular branch.

General staff branch (GS br).The GS branch is responsible for

planning and directing operations, training, intelligence, staff
duties, psychological operations and media.

AQ Branch The responsibilities of the AQ branch will be

divided in to A and Q matters according to the nature of the
matter.
 KA· Matters

The subjects coming under the purview of KA· matters are

administration of personnel ceremonials honours and awards
medical services pay and allowances discipline legal and
welfare matters.

KQ· Matters (also known as ´Log· Matters).

The subjects coming under the purview of KQ· matters are

supply of rations, transport ,accommodation engineer
services (constructions additions and improvements and
maintenance ) control of ordnance stores (except items
controlled by the GS branch) and repair and recovery.
V
 Coordination The deputy of the formation is
responsible for the coordination between all
branches. When there is no deputy formation
commander the senior staff officer in the GS
branch is responsible for it.
 ADVISORS OF ARMS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF
SERVICES.
In addition to the staff in a formation there will be
Kadvisors of arms· and Krepresentatives of services·
who will be attached to the formation. These
advisors and representatives will be attached to the
branches of the formation.
GS BRANCH.

 Armour
 Artillery
 Engineers
 Signals
 Naval of Air force representatives (if attached).

AQ BRANCH.

 ESR
 SLASC
 SLAMC
 SLAOC
 SLEME
 SLCMP
 Pay Section
 Movement control representatives
 OTHER APPOINTMENTS
In addition to the branches and function
mentioned there are certain appointments
such as MA, ADC to a commander and camp
commandant etc. They are not staff officers in
the strictest sense of the term staff.
 DUTIES OF THE STAFF
DUTIES IN GENERAL

The duties of the staff are to:

a. Help the commander to carry out his functions of command.

b. Help the fighting troops as well as the services in carrying out

their tasks effectively.

c. Work as a team in close cooperation and harmony among the

branches an with the supporting arms and services.
 A staff officer should learn to study the
characteristics of his commander. Thereby he
should establish mutual confidence and
understanding. This confidence should be based
on loyalty tact and the competence of the staff
officer·s capability in staff work. The most
important is to bear in mind that a staff officer
serves his commander with loyalty: and not for the
staff in the superior formation. A good staff should
save his commander from worrying about minor
details.
 The duties of the staff towards their commander
may involve the following:
a. Collection and Distribution of information. The staff must constantly try to
obtain the information needed by the commander to formulate his plans.

b. Advising the Commander The guiding rule is that a staff officer should at all
times be ready to give advice to his commander but he should do so only when
asked to do so or when in his opinion the commander has overlooked some
important facts or details.

c. Working out the commander·s plan The staff is responsible for working out
details of the commander·s plan.

d. Issue of orders Orders may be issued verbally, by wireless communication

as a formal written order or by means of a liaison officer. A staff officer should
be prepared to issue order in any of these forms and it should be clear
comprehensive and concise with speed and accuracy.

e. Representing the Commander When active operations are taking place and
during the absence of a commander his deputy or a senior staff officer in the GS
branch should be available in the headquarters to take important decisions.
A good staff officer should consider him as the
servant of the troops. Therefore the staff has
to serve two masters: the commander and his
troops. This dual obligation requires loyalty
foresight tact and sound knowledge of human
nature.
 The most essential is to gain confidence of
subordinate commanders and their staffs as
well as regimental officers and troops. This
confidence can be established by efficient
staff work frequent visits sympathy and
sincerity.

 A staff officer must never promise anything

that he cannot carryout. He should never pass
on responsibility. Anything that effects the
fighting efficiency or the welfare of the solder
must be primary concern to the staff officer
and he must never leave it to chance.
 Commanders of supporting arms usually attend when
orders are issued by the commanders they are supporting.
But the representatives or heads of services normally
receive all orders through administrative staffs. The staff
must:

a. Ensure that order are issued to commanders of

supporting arms in the same way as they are issued
to commanders of formations or units permanently under
command. Therefore arms advisors must be
included in the distribution of orders as necessary.

b. Understand the capabilities and limitations of the

services to when they issue orders on behalf of their
commanders so that excessive demands are not made on
them or they are not under employed.
 DUTIES OF STAFF TOWARDS ITSELF

The keynote for better cooperation among

members of a staff in a headquarters is
goodwill and friendly personal relations
between them and the staff of the superior
and subordinate headquarters.
The exchange of information between branches is
most vital. Nobody should pass responsibility
and term spirit should be developed to achieve
desired results.
 CONCLUSION

The success of staff work depends on

its accuracy and timely conclusion.
Delayed or faulty staff work may reduce
the morale of the fighting troops and
may also jeopardize the success of the
whole operation.