text: FM 7-100.1________________________________________________________________________________
  • Monitors the activities of subordinate staffs.
  • Coordinates ongoing activity with higher-level and adjacent staffs
  during an operation.
  2-92. All operational-level headquarters have the same basic organization,
  although each differs in size and complexity. The higher the level, the larger
  and more complex the staff. Therefore, the organization of command and
  staff elements is similar at theater, FG, or OSC.
  2-93. The staff consists of three elements: the primary staff, the secondary
  staff and the functional staff. Figure 2-14 depicts the primary, secondary,
  and functional staff officers of an OSC headquarters; it does not show the li-
  aison teams, which support the primary, secondary, and functional staff.
  Primary and Secondary Staff
  2-94. Each member of the primary staff heads a staff section. Within each
  section are two or three secondary staff officers heading subsections subordi-
  nate to that primary staff officer.
  2-95. Operations Officer. The operations officer heads the operations
  section, and conducts planning and prepares operation plans and operational
  directives. Thus, the operations section is the principal staff section. It
  includes current operations, future operations, and airspace operations
  subsections, as well as the functional staff.
  2-96. The operations officer is responsible for training and the formulating of
  plans and orders. He monitors the work of all other staff sections, remains
  knowledgeable of the current situation, and is ready to present information
  and recommendations concerning the situation. He writes combat orders and
  important combat reports. In coordination with the information section, the
  operations officer keeps the commander informed on the progress of the op-
  eration. Specific duties of the operations section include—
  • Assisting the commander in the making and execution of combat decisions.
  • Collecting information concerning the situation of friendly forces.
  • Preparing and disseminating operational directives, plans and reports,
  summaries, and situation overlays.
  • Providing liaison for the exchange of information within the headquar-
  ters and with higher, subordinate, and adjacent units.
  • Organizing the main CP.
  • Organizing troop movement and traffic control.
  • Coordinating the organization of reconnaissance with the information section.
  2-97. The chief of current operations is a secondary staff officer who proac-
  tively monitors the course of current operations and coordinates the actions of
  forces to ensure execution of the commander’s intent. He serves as the represen-
  tative of the commander, chief of staff, and operations officer in their absence
  and has the authority to control forces in accordance with the operation plan.
  2-98. The chief of future operations is a secondary staff officer who heads the
  planning staff and ensures continuous development of future plans and pos-
  sible branches, sequels, and contingencies. While the commander and the