What can I expect as a BN or BDE staff Officer?

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 16 May 2020 10:53:16 -0400

I've been at my current unit for 2 and half years as a 31A and my time is probably coming to an end NLT March 2021. My future assignment recommendations have been at Battalion or Brigade staff prior to Company Command. What can I possibly expect at that level?

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made May 16 at 2020 11:01 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Sat, 16 May 2020 11:01:04 -0400

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 16 at 2020 12:19 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 16 May 2020 12:19:57 -0400

Sir, I would love to tell you....but I would end up using a rather large amount of expletives.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made May 16 at 2020 1:17 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sat, 16 May 2020 13:17:53 -0400

1LT Private RallyPoint Member This is a mile wide and a mile deep. Which staff section? Which level? Then there is the RC spin on it. You need to look at DA PAM 600-3 and ADP 3.0.

In general staff officers track reporting, take action on reporting within their scope, provide staff estimates, conduct staff studies, supervise programs (like ammo management, CSDP, unit maintenance program) etc), participate in MDMP, work issues for companies, support the Commander by doing what the XO directs the staff to do, other duties as assigned, other duties as assigned, other duties as assigned, other duties as assigned, and other duties as assigned.

As a company grade officer you may or may not be a staff primary (i.e. "The" S3). Spoiler alert: you are going to Be assigned to an HHC/hHD as a staff officer for the rest of your career with the exception of OC/T, PME and Company Command. They miss that in the ROTC and OCS trifold glossy brochure. Moral of the story: get good at it.

Staff is not all bad. You get to see what "they" were thinking when they wrote that order that you complain about at the Company. You'll find there was not much choice and they didn't lack creativity. Sh-stuff needs to get done and someone is going to do it.
- You get to see Command at the Company and Command at the BN/BDE level good and bad. You can learn lots of helpful information through research and example for Company Command.
- You'll network and forge relationships with people at the doer level in the HQ. They are invaluable at helping you. How much they help, largely depends on how much of a jerk you are to them. You'll find they like being engaged politely and professionally and will die on their shield to help you.
- Approached from a "what can I learn and get better at" perspective goes further in staff work, than "this sucks, why can't I be a Captain as a CO XO?" Mentality. Great opportunity to develop effective writing skills, especially active voice, brevity based Army writing style. It is criminal we no longer have CAS3.
- Being an S1 is a great opportunity as most good things come from S1: promotions, awards, orders, and fixes for pay and personnel actions. You also get innermost access to the BN or BDE CDR.
- Being an S2 means never having to figure out physical security, key control, etc ever again, but there is likely an MI officer hooking and jabbing to get that S2 slot.
- Being an S3 gives you the best seat in the house to figuring out BN/BDE XO and Command. Two absolutely distinct things. The hardest thing for me was being the XO and BN CDR at the same time.
- Being a S4, unless you were an absolutely incompetent boob, you should have no problems navigating management of a property book, Supply room, and purchasing.
- you are unlikely to be thrown in as an S6, but you should really understand comms and IT, especially if your NCO is worth their salt.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 16 at 2020 1:28 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sat, 16 May 2020 13:28:44 -0400

Some LTs become assistants. Like the assistant S-4.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 16 at 2020 7:58 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 16 May 2020 19:58:47 -0400

LT,
The reality is the MTOE does not support an extra 31A at the BN, unless mobilized or deployed. Only four 31As: BN CDR, XO, S3, and HHC CDR are authorized with an extra 02/03 in the 3 shop when mobilized. The rest are excess. Also, the fact that we are short Co Cdrs across the force means you will probably assume command before making CPT. In a perfect world, you would get the best return in the 3 shop. Back to your question... you’re going to get out what you put in. Be prepared to exercise disciplined initiative. Get smart with the unit METL and understand how training nests. Try to anticipate requirements and plan branches. Your strength will be your tactical expertise and ability to communicate the effects of operations at the CO/PLT level. That sounding board has the potential to re-evaluate plans/operations. Ultimately, be a sponge and try not to repeat mistakes. If need specific advice regarding your specific BN/BDE, shoot me an email on global.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2020 10:47 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 May 2020 22:47:06 -0400

You’ll probably be slotted as surplus and fill a job as “assistant S3.” If there are no captains in the shop, you can expect to be the current operations officer (OPORDS, task tracking, etc). If the shop is well-stocked, they’ll probably employ you as the “LE Officer” or have you do a special project. If you’re a top performer, they may put you in as S4 or another primary vacancy. The command queue across the army right now for MPs is about 18-24 months.

If you’re on BDE staff and it’s not an MP BDE, you’ll be the BDE Provost Marshal. I did that job for 12+ months after BN CUOPs and before command. It’s a lot of hard work (depending on the unit), but a fantastic opportunity to learn Maneuver and Protection, as well as observe the other WFFs in action.

Whatever you end up doing, be a good teammate and be whatever the unit needs you to be.