Battle Staff NCO Handbook Notes

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Foreword

• The handbook addresses the challenges faced by brigade combat team (BCT) and battalion-level staffs in full-spectrum warfare.
• Battle staffs must plan and conduct multiple military operations simultaneously.
• Units may be conducting stability operations in one sector while engaging in small-unit fights in another.
• Key imperatives:
  • Manage information and expectations (battle tracking).
  • Learn and adapt (flexibility).
  • Empower the lowest levels (centralized planning/decentralized execution).
• The battle staff's role is critical in a counterinsurgency environment.
• Battle staff noncommissioned officers (NCOs) are principal managers of battle tracking.
• The handbook offers rehearsal techniques and troop-leading procedures to improve battle staff efficiency.

Table of Contents

The handbook includes the following chapters and appendices:

• Introduction
• Chapter 1: Battle Staff Noncommissioned Officers in the Tactical Operations Center/Command Post
• Chapter 2: Roles and Functions of Battle Staff Noncommissioned Officers
• Chapter 3: Battle Staff Rehearsals
• Chapter 4: Troop-Leading Procedures for Battle Staff Noncommissioned Officers
• Chapter 5: After-Action Review
• Appendix A: Battle Tracking Enablers
• Appendix B: References

Introduction

• Command post (CP) personnel must be able to visualize from radio traffic and act with intelligence, imagination, and initiative.
• Competent, experienced, mature, and intelligent personnel should comprise the CP.
• Battle staffs working in CPs must remain adaptive and proactive to predict events, engage the threat, and protect friendly forces.
• The battle staff NCO plays an important role in this process.
• An effective battle staff must integrate information from one staff section to another and avoid a stovepipe view.
• There must be a mindset of finding and killing both lethal and nonlethal targets.
• The battle staff must act immediately on information received from the field as actionable intelligence.
• The S3 staff leverages assets to execute the fight in accordance with the commander’s intent.
• Battle staff-related trends from the combat training centers (CTCs) indicate:
  • Lack of qualified battle staff NCOs.
  • Improper use of NCOs in a tactical operations center (TOC)/CP at brigade/battalion levels.
  • Ineffective battle tracking and critical information processing.
  • Poor execution instructions.
  • Weak application of intelligence preparation of the battlefield (IPB).

Definitions

• Battle tracking: Includes monitoring locations, activities, combat power, progress of adjacent and supporting units, and updating templates.

  • The battle staff processes all reports and information entering the CP and maintains and monitors:
    • Situation maps.
    • Adjacent unit and joint, interagency, intergovernmental, and multinational activities.
    • Status charts.
    • Emerging enemy tactics, techniques, and procedures.
  • The battle staff captain coordinates battle-tracking activities for all CP sections.

• Information management: Includes defining the tactical problem; understanding requirements, capabilities, and shortfalls; providing feasible options; and recognizing the time for decision(s).

  • The eight steps to managing information are:
    1. Receive information.
    2. Record and post information.
    3. Understand the information.
    4. Process information.
    5. Analyze information.
    6. Disseminate information.
    7. Safeguard information.
    8. Follow up.

• Information superiority: The doctrinal keys to achieving information superiority are:

  • Develop and maintain a comprehensive picture of enemies and adversaries and forecast their likely actions.
  • Deny enemies and adversaries information about friendly forces and operations.
  • Influence enemy and adversary leader perceptions, plans, actions, and will to oppose friendly forces.
  • Influence noncombatants and neutrals to support friendly missions or not to resist friendly activities.
  • Inform noncombatant and neutral organizations so they can better support friendly policies, activities, and intentions.
  • Protect friendly decision-making processes, information, and information systems.
  • Continually provide relevant information (including intelligence) to the commander and staff in a useable form.
  • Destroy, degrade, disrupt, deny, deceive, and exploit enemy decision-making processes, information, and information systems.

• Execution instructions: Articulate the commander’s decisions to subordinates, allocate resources, and develop technical and tactical instructions.

• Intelligence preparation of the battlefield (IPB): The main elements of IPB include:

  • Define the OE.
  • Describe the environmental effects.
  • Evaluate the threat.
  • Determine threat courses of action (COAs).

• To enhance battle staff training and effectiveness, units should conduct predeployment training that encompasses:

  • Doctrinally precise tasks and conditions.
  • Doctrine-based scope and task organization.
  • Centralized planning and control in response to enemy actions.
  • Doctrine-based opposing forces.
  • Top-down intelligence direction and products.
  • Detailed planning and preparation for a discrete, short duration.
  • Standardized performance of the battle staff process, procedures, and products as measures of effectiveness.

• Battle staffs must continually adapt against a clever, innovative enemy and manage information and expectations via a continuous, effective planning and targeting cycle to attain information superiority.

• An effective functioning battle staff, supported by NCOs, enhances mission success.

• This handbook offers a prescriptive method to assist battle staff NCOs in understanding their roles and functions as members of battalion and brigade staffs.

Chapter 1: Battle Staff Noncommissioned Officers in the Tactical Operations Center/Command Post

• The tactical operations center (TOC)/command post (CP) cannot run effectively without technically and tactically proficient battle staff noncommissioned officers (NCOs).
• NCOs working in the TOC/CP should have a firm grasp on their roles and responsibilities within their assigned warfighting functional (WFF) areas and understand how these roles relate to others in the TOC/CP.
• Battle staff NCOs must take an active part in the planning and execution of all types of military operations.
• Senior NCOs on the battle staff are required to mentor, develop, and train young Soldiers and new NCOs in the individual and collective tasks associated with TOC/CP operations.
• Personnel filling critical, higher-level (E-7 and above) NCO positions should be graduates of the Battle Staff NCO Course taught at the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy.

Officers

• The officer’s role within the CP is primarily one of “seeing the battlefield.”
• Battle staff officers assess the tactical situation, anticipate the enemy’s intent, and determine the long- and short-term impact of friendly actions.
• Battle captains and other commissioned officers on the staff issue instructions in accordance with the commander’s guidance and develop estimates and plans using the military decision-making process (MDMP).
• Officers should maintain a wide view of operations and not routinely post the operations map, work digital command and control (C2) systems, or answer telephones.
• These roles should be fulfilled by battle staff NCOs.

Command Sergeant Major (CSM)

• CSMs need to understand the concept of battle circulation and its overall impact on the command.
• He is the commander's additional set of eyes and ears.
• He must understand not only the plan but also the commander's intent.
• That is the only way he can translate both into troubleshooting events or systems.
• The unit CSM actively participates in the selection and retention of qualified NCOs for TOC/CP operations.
• The CSM must rigorously enforce the use of available TOC/CP training courses.
• He participates in developing and implementing enlisted training and enlisted Soldiers’ tasks based on the unit mission essential task list (METL) and battle focus.
• The CSM monitors TOC/CP operations and NCO participation.
• He must actively mentor NCOs about their TOC/CP responsibilities and training.

Operations Sergeant Major (SGM)

• The operations SGM supervises the staff on the control of the tactical command post (TAC CP) and the TOC.
• During tactical operations, the SGM remains with the TAC CP until the TOC jumps to a new location.
• SGM duties and responsibilities include:
  • Ensure proper accountability and maintenance of equipment and vehicles.
  • Supervise precombat inspections (PCI) and precombat checks (PCC).
  • Deploy with the assault element during tactical jumps.
  • Monitor and supervise the distribution of messages and operational overlays (analog/digital).
  • Coordinate and brief displacement (jump TOC) procedures including tear down, setup, and quartering party activities, and be responsible for the physical setup, arrangement, and breakdown of the main CP.
  • Ensure accurate setup of TAC CP and all supporting vehicles to approved configuration.
  • Supervise control over both the exterior and interior organization of the TOC.
  • Leverage biometric capabilities to validate identity of authorized visitors to the TOC/CP.
  • Supervise the TOC security plan and develop specific security programs.
  • Responsible for staff training:
    • Ensures qualified Soldiers/NCOs attend the Battle Staff NCO Course or schools that benefit Soldiers and their WFF groups.
    • Ensures a training and validation training program is developed to keep NCOs proficient and current on staff operations and procedures.
    • Ensures Soldiers receive digital systems training and digital gunnery training.
    • Ensures Soldiers are cross-trained.
  • Assist the battle captain with rehearsals and executing battle drills.
  • Give guidance and supervise the construction of the terrain board model during planning phases.
  • Ensure all information within the TOC (coming and going) is disseminated, updated, collaborated, and managed properly.
  • Monitor situations and ensure TOC maintains communications with attached, subordinate, adjacent units, and higher headquarters.
  • Manage reports/battle tracking.
  • Oversee the timely and accurate posting of graphics and overlays.
  • Supervise fragmentary order (FRAGO) control (accountability) and distribution.
  • Ensure TOC personnel annotate logistics reports in appropriate journal files.
  • Ensure TOC personnel act on all requests for information (RFIs).
  • Ensure TOC personnel continually update significant activities (SIGACTS).
  • Maintain status boards/charts.
  • Ensure TOC maintains battle rhythm:
    • Supervises and ensures the TOC rehearses commander’s update briefings (battlefield update brief) and allocates time for staff and the WFF chiefs to prepare and brief the commander and staff.
    • Monitors and ensures all staff sections/WFF follow the time schedule for rehearsals.
    • Monitors and checks to see if all WFF chiefs/noncommissioned officers in charge (NCOICs) turn in their briefing slides at the appropriate time.
    • Monitors staff rehearsals, mainly ensuring everyone is present.
  • Coordinate, synchronize, and integrate internal CP and separate cell activities.
  • Serve as chief advisor to the executive officer (XO) and S3 concerning main CP operations during planning, preparation, and execution.
  • Participate in CP site selection, reconnaissance, and movement and cell coordination.
  • Know all electronic/computer tracking systems and communication systems in use and ensure operators are fully trained.
  • Ensure system of resupply for expendable items.
  • Coordinate repair or replacement of computer hardware/software.
  • Responsible for TOC/CP life support (food, water, rest periods, duty rosters).

S3 NCOIC

• The S3 NCOIC works directly for the operations SGM and assumes his duties in his absence.
• He oversees the following TOC functions: receives, distributes, and analyzes information; makes recommendations; and integrates and synchronizes resources.
• Duties and responsibilities of the S3 NCOIC include:
  • Supervise the daily operations and enforce standing operating procedures (SOPs).
  • Train enlisted personnel.
  • Monitor and train NCOs prior to their attendance at the Battle Staff NCO Course.
  • Ensure proper distribution of reports and messages throughout the CP.
  • Supervise maintenance and administration of the TOC/CP.
  • Coordinate with the first sergeant and company XO for maintenance and logistics package support.
  • Ensure personnel properly service and maintain all equipment systems.
  • Supervise TOC/CP personnel in setup/teardown and displacement.
  • Supervise physical layout of main CP vehicles, extensions, briefing tents, sleep tents, and antennas.
  • Recommend selection of alternate CP locations/configurations.
  • Enforce security plan.
  • Inspect section fighting positions/range cards.
  • Conduct OPSEC vulnerability assessment.
  • Collect and consolidate schedules for current operations personnel.
  • Collect and battle track unit status report information.
  • Monitor situations and ensure personnel maintain communications with attached personnel.
  • Map all graphics and overlays.
  • Control and distribute FRAGOs.
  • Log information in journal files.
  • Assist in answering RFIs.
  • Update SIGACTS.
  • Assist in the MDMP.
  • Prepare main CP for orders, drills, briefs, and rehearsals.
  • Assist in coordinating and preparing rehearsals.
  • Account for terrain board and equipment, and supervise setting up terrain board.
  • Ensure all communications are operational.
  • Establish and maintain an effective battle rhythm to ensure the higher headquarters receives the required reports.
  • Know all software and programs in use by the operations section.
  • Ensure section sleep plans and shift schedules are posted and working properly.

Battle Staff NCO

• The battle staff NCO and battle captain must work together and understand each other’s roles and responsibilities.
• The battle staff NCO must have access to and an understanding of the current operations plan (OPLAN), operations order (OPORD), and FRAGOs issued by his unit and his higher headquarters.
• He must maintain current battle execution synchronization matrices, execution checklists, execution matrices, operation schedules, and the overall common operational picture (COP) to effectively battle track current operations.
• He is the first-line information manager.
• The battle staff NCO must understand everything about the commander’s critical information requirements (CCIR).
• He should have a good working knowledge of the current situation.
• He must keep the battle captain out of trouble.
• An overview of the duties and responsibilities of the battle staff NCO include:
  • Supervise TOC information flow.
  • Collect, process, and disseminate information.
  • Oversee quality control of battle tracking.
  • Ensure the TOC can operate continuously while static or mobile.
  • Monitor current operations.
  • Ensure TOC personnel distribute reports and messages properly.
  • Update unit status reports.
  • Manage shift schedules.
  • Maintain staff journals and filing records of all staff decisions and critical information.
  • Maintain and update graphic control measures.
  • Support the commander’s update brief.

TOC/CP Operational Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTP)

• An effective TOC/CP demands special TTP to function effectively in the field.
• The TOC/CP has two primary functions:
  • To track Soldiers and equipment during the battle to assist the leader in the command and control of the unit.
  • To serve as a data center that processes enemy and friendly information.
• The basic building blocks for any TOC/CP are:
  • Internal work area
  • Physical setup
  • Personnel who make the TOC/CP function
• The responsibility of the BCT/battalion operations officer is to assemble these building blocks and make them operate as one.
• Ultimately, the success of a TOC/CP depends on its ability to battle track information in any situation.
• Personnel guided by experience can use these simple tracking tools to get the job done.
• Regardless of its physical size, the TOC/CP must have a system in place to record and display basic message traffic.
• An effective TOC/CP provides vital battle-tracking information using a centralized COP.
• The concept of a COP is simple: provide a situational update at a glance.
• The charts should not be so busy that they are not functional.

Predeployment Tips

• Replicate the OIF environment during predeployment training:
  • Configure garrison operations to mirror field CPs in form and function.
  • Recommend NCOs convert a conference room into a facsimile of their CP.
  • Ensure NCOs participate in the predeployment site survey.
• Design realistic and rigorous training:
  • If possible, connect via SIPRNET to the unit’s deployment area of operations (AO).
  • Recommend battle staffs focus on specific counterinsurgency (COIN) tasks that apply to their operational environment/AO.
  • Recommend every Soldier receive culture and language training tailored to his future operational area.
  • Battalion and BCT battle staffs should plan and coordinate simultaneous training events and predeployment activities to ensure successful predeployment operations.
• Major training events include:
  • Organizing for combat.
  • Fielding required equipment.
  • Filling personnel shortages.
  • Developing and submitting an operational needs statement.
  • Conducting equipment maintenance and preparing for deployment.
  • Conducting multi-echelon training.
  • Validating all units for deployment in accordance with Forces Command and Combined Forces Land Component Command predeployment training program/standards.
  • Developing the deployment order/OPLAN.
  • Developing training timelines.
  • Conducting battle staff training.
  • Ensuring compliance with the Soldier Readiness Program (SRP).
  • Refining battle staff structure and responsibilities.
  • Cross training.

TOC/CP Operations

• Units and battle staff NCOs can use the following tips to enhance mission accomplishment:
  • Keep map boards up to date; do not rely exclusively on digital systems.
  • Use standard 1:50,000 scale military maps.
  • Use smaller or larger maps as additions, not substitutes.
  • Place the operations map in the center flanked by the intelligence and fire support maps.
  • Create overlays to one standard size.
  • Consider combining status charts with situation maps.
  • Standardize map boards to the same size, scale, and overlay mounting holes.
  • Depict all unit boundaries and current locations of friendly units within the AO.
  • Template known and suspected enemy locations.
  • Display locations of essential sustainment modes.
  • Depict main supply routes.
  • To enhance effective battle tracking, recommend battle staffs build the COP as the action occurs to provide the commander relevant information.
  • The S2 supervises intelligence preparation of the battlefield (IPB), but the entire staff develops the IPB. The battle staff should continuously review and update its respective “running” estimates.
  • Keep tactical orders simple and concise. Maximize the use of matrix OPORDs with graphics.
  • Adhere to the 1/3 (plan) – 2/3 (execute) rule.
  • Factor in mission, enemy, terrain and weather, troops and support available, time available, and civil considerations (METT-TC).
  • When occupying a fixed site or conducting a transfer of authority with another unit, conduct a detailed site survey to ensure systems and communications compatibility.
  • Ensure the battle captains, battle staff NCOs, radio telephone operators (RTOs), and primary staff officers (at least the S2) can see the same COP from their working stations.
  • Recommend battle captains monitor radio traffic from their working stations.
  • Ensure communications are compatible with subordinate elements, the supported unit, and higher headquarters.
  • Publish primary, alternate, contingency, and emergency communication procedures.
  • Provide a mechanism for capturing and sharing SIGACTS.

TOC/CP operations checklist

Below is an example of a TOC/CP checklist units and battle staff NCOs can use to enhance mission accomplishment. The following list provides only “A Way” and is not all-inclusive:

• Maintain unit battle tracking.
• Monitor civil-military operations (CMO) requesting, tracking, coordinating, and targeting information operations (IO).
• Maintain brigade or battalion/task force (TF) estimate workbook/journal.
• Enforce sleep plan and shift plans/shift chart by name.
• Conduct after-action reviews (AARs) for specific operations, overall issues, and overall team/staff weaknesses and strengths.
• Establish and enforce rules for eating, drinking, sleeping, hot washes, badges, and equipment arrangement.
• Enforce sound, noise, light disciplines.
• Enforce vehicle start schedule and generator fueling and changeover schedules.
• Maintain status boards for each staff section and/or WFF.
• Maintain journal and/or ledger (S3, S2, S5) to track specific information requirements (IR), CCIR, and CMO actions.
• Conduct shift change briefs.
• Ensure adherence to “jump” TOC SOP, equipment, forms, and references available.
• Maintain SIGACTS.
• Maintain situation maps (operations, intelligence, and fire support/fire direction).
• Supervise preventive maintenance checks and services for assigned vehicles, generators, radios, weapons.
• Ensure adherence to casualty evacuation and personnel recovery procedures.
• Maintain battle roster of battalion/TF and any attachments.
• Assist with publication of warning orders/FRAGOs.
• Pre-format blank orders.
• Conduct frequency changeover and signal operating instructions.
• Maintain defense sketches, range cards, and TOC/CP layout diagram.
• Maintain communications and logistics status chart.
• Maintain continuity book (layout, load plan, job description, recurring actions, etc.).
• Conduct immediate action drills.
• Maintain a current SOP.
• Enforce network discipline.

Shift change tips

• Information interchanges for the battle staff occur during shift changes.
• If the shift change briefs are executed effectively, battle tracking continues in a near-seamless transition.
• The operations SGM is responsible for the shift change and for selecting NCOs for specific shifts.
• The commander may want several battle update briefs throughout the day.
• The operations SGM and the battle staff NCOIC ensure briefing areas and shift change personnel are present for the shift change.
• Key shift change considerations include:
  • Dedicate a briefing area.
  • Ensure all incoming shift NCOs are present.
  • Identify a recorder.
  • Submit information slides to the battle captain in a timely manner.
  • Account for all slice elements.
  • Ensure CSM and operations SGM have a portion of the brief.
  • Ensure all slice element NCOs conduct an internal shift change brief.
  • Establish criteria to wake senior leaders when their presence is required.
  • Establish a plan to update senior leaders after rest periods.
  • Include a sleep plan in the METT-TC analysis, and post sleep plans in the CP.

TOC/CP Shift Change Brief Format – “A Way”

NCO Shift Change Briefing Format - “A Way”

• The operations SGM ensures that battle staff NCOs conduct their own internal shift change to help facilitate effective information flow/battle tracking in the CP.
• The outgoing shift briefs the incoming shift in detail.
• Important areas to cover during the shift change brief include:

Current operations:

• Mission
• Commander’s intent
• Concept of operation
• Task organization
• Friendly situation
• Enemy situation
• Unit locations and current SIGACTS
• Personnel status
• Logistics status, to include the TOC/CP
• Combat power status
• Weapons systems status
• Mission-oriented protective posture (MOPP) status
• Air defense artillery status
• Current fire missions
• Current air missions
• Battle damage assessment during shift
• Attached/detached status (operational control)
• Location of battalion or brigade commander
• Location of the CSM
• Location of the S3/XO
• Location of the operations SGM
• Security/observation post (OP) status
• Guard roster/time schedule

Future operations:

• Orders/plans to be produced
• Orders due to higher
• Contingency missions
• Planned/anticipated SIGACTS
• Reports last sent
• Actions required by next shift
• Reports due early next shift
• Review staff journal
• Shift changes facilitate efficient battle tracking in the TOC/CP, while updating all principal staff members on the COP.
• The following best practices will help your battle staff achieve and maintain an effective battle rhythm:
  • Standardize the agenda.
  • Simplify your systems.
  • All primary staff members should have representation at the shift change briefing.
  • Brief deliberate battalion/brigade-size operations in detail.
  • Shift change should occur for all members of the TOC/CP at the same time.

Summary

• This chapter highlights the crucial role that battle staff NCOs fulfill in operating a successful TOC/CP.
• NCOs have always been the U.S. Army’s primary trainers, and, as such, they help set and maintain the high standards necessary for efficient battalion and BCT staffs.

Chapter 2: Roles and Functions of Battle Staff Noncommissioned Officers

• Battle staff NCOs focus on assisting their respective staff officers and senior NCOs.
• The entire staff contributes to making and executing timely decisions.
• Commanders and staffs continually look for opportunities to streamline cumbersome or time-consuming procedures.
• Principal staff officers along with their senior NCOs determine what specific functions are performed within their sections based upon the skill sets of available personnel.

Intelligence (Intel) Function

• The battle staff NCO assists within the intel warfighting functional area with all matters concerning intel readiness, intel tasks, intel synchronization, other intel support, counterintelligence, and support to security programs.

Intel readiness:

• Establish and maintain the proper relationships and procedures with other intel staffs, units, and organizations.
• Before deploying on an operation, coordinate with higher echelons, the S4, and the engineer coordinator (ENCOORD) to identify requirements for geospatial products.
• Prepare the command intel-training plan and integrate intel, counter- intelligence, and enemy/threat considerations into other training plans.

Intel tasks:

• Manage intelligence preparation of the battlefield (IPB), to include integrating the IPB efforts of the rest of the staff and other echelons, and support parallel planning.
• Perform situation development, to include updating the enemy/threat, terrain and weather, and civil considerations portions of the common operating picture (COP).
• Provide indications and warnings support to operations.
• Provide intel support to targeting, to include participating in targeting meetings, developing targets, planning target acquisition, and tracking high-payoff targets (HPTs).
• Provide intel support to battle damage assessment.
• Provide intel support to force protection.
• Provide intel support to information operations (IO) by integrating intel products into IO planning and integrating IO considerations into the other intel tasks.
• Recommend priority intelligence requirements (PIR).

Intel synchronization:

• Synchronize intel support to operations and to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) integration.
• Develop and continuously update list of intel gaps.
• Analyze and track commander’s critical information requirements (CCIR), PIR, friendly forces information requirements (FFIR), and information requirements (IRs) to develop generic collection tasks and requests for support from higher and adjacent commands.
• Develop the intel synchronization plan.

Other intel support:

• Provide intel updates, other products, and additional support to ISR integration, the concept of operations, and mission accomplishment.
• Advise the commander so that all collection, production, and dissemination adhere to special security, legal, and regulatory restrictions.
• Facilitate the military-intelligence-unique deconfliction of collection among assigned, attached, and supporting intelligence-collection assets and other collection assets in the area of operations (AO).
• Prepare the intel annex to plans and orders and the intel estimate.
• Coordinate technical control and technical support for military intel assets and units.
• Debrief friendly personnel.
• Identify linguist requirements pertaining to intel support.
• Determine all foreign languages and dialects proficiencies needed for mission accomplishment.
• Coordinate security investigations of local-hire linguists.

Counterintelligence:

• Coordinate counterintelligence activities.
• Ensure intelligence contingency funds (ICF) and the micro awards program are coordinated for and in place.
• Identify enemy intel collection capabilities, such as efforts targeted against the unit.
• Evaluate enemy intel capabilities as they affect operational security, counter surveillance, signals security, security operations, military deception planning, psychological operations (PSYOP), area security operations, and force protection.

Support to security programs:

• Supervise the command and personnel security programs.
• Evaluate physical security vulnerabilities.
• Conduct staff planning and supervise the special security office.
• Ensure biometrics systems are in place and functioning properly.
• Ensure all applicable security accreditations are valid and up to date.

Maneuver Function

• The battle staff NCO assists within the maneuver functional area with all matters concerning training, operations and plans, force development, and modernization.

Training:

• Conduct training within the command.
• Assist with the preparation of training guidance.
• Help the S3 develop the unit’s mission essential task list (METL).
• Identify training requirements based on the unit METL and training status.
• Determine requirements for and allocation of training resources.
• Organize and conduct internal schools; obtain and allocate quotas for external schools.
• Conduct training inspections, tests, and evaluations.
• Maintain the unit readiness status of each unit in the command.
• Compile training records and reports.

Operations and plans:

• Prepare, coordinate, authenticate, publish, and distribute command standing operating procedures (SOPs), plans, orders, terrain requirements, and products involving contributions from other staff sections.
• Plan, coordinate, and supervise exercises.
• Participate in targeting meetings.
• Review plans and orders of subordinate units.
• Synchronize tactical operations with all staff sections.
• Ensure necessary combat support requirements are provided when and where required.
• Integrate biometrics capabilities into plans and orders to achieve identity dominance in the AO.
• Integrate ISR into the concept of operations.
• Develop the ISR plan annex with rest of the staff.
• Integrate fire support into operations.
• Plan tactical troop movement, including route selection, priority of movement, timing, security, bivouacking, quartering, staging, and preparing movement orders.
• Requisition replacement units.
• Establish criteria for reconstitution operations.
• Coordinate and direct terrain management.
• Determine combat service support (CSS) resource requirements with the S1 and S4.
• Participate in course of action (COA) and decision support template development with the S2 and