Guide for Participants in Peace, Stability, and Relief Operations (2024)

United States Army (USA)

Staff Section Designations

Every unit of battalion size or larger has four or more specialized staff sections, each of which is identified by an alphanumeric designation (see table 4.3 below). Section 1 (S1) handles personnel administration; S2 handles the processing of intelligence and tactical information for the commander; S3 handles plans, operations, and training; S4 handles all aspects of logistics—transportation, supply, ammunition, rations, and so forth. The S designation is standard for Army and Marine units up to the level of a brigade or regiment. When the unit is commanded by a general officer, the designation is G to indicate general staff. (In a JTF, each section is designated by a J instead of an S, and in a combined (or multinational) force the sections are designated by a C.) At brigade, regiment, or division level there may be an additional section, S5 (or G5), that deals with civil affairs. The officer in charge of the S5 section handles civil-military relations and is in charge of the civil-military operations center. At corps level and above, the staff sections numbered 5 or higher often deal with other specialties. Typically, staff section 5 is the planning section, staff section 6 is the communications section, and staff section 9 works on civil-military relations. The function of staff sections 7 and 8 depend on the unit's mission. The work of the various sections is coordinated and overseen by an executive officer at the battalion and brigade levels, and by a chief of staff at the division, corps, or Marine Expeditionary Force, joint and combined levels. Staff officers both plan and assist the commander in executing operations, but the leaders of staff sections are not commanders. However, when authorized and under the proper circ*mstances, staff officers may speak for the commander or issue orders in his name.

Table 4.3. Staff Sections

Staffs are organized by the commander of an operation to accomplish the mission. The first four sections are standard through all levels of staff.

The rest of the staff organization is very much mission dependent. The portion of the table below includes some of the more traditional section designations.

ARMY TRANSFORMATION

Today, the U.S. Army is pursuing the most comprehensive transformation of its forces since World War II. The Army is transforming to a campaign-quality force with joint and expeditionary capabilities providing relevant and ready land power to combatant commanders. Campaigns are undertaken to bring about fundamental, favorable change in a crisis region and create enduring results. Many campaigns will likely entail lengthy periods of both combat and stability operations. This situation requires the Army to sustain decisive operations for as long as necessary and adapt to changes as required. At the same time, it must also sustain operational support to forces around the globe. The Army is focusing its efforts to enhance the capabilities of soldiers and units to meet the requirements of the full range of its strategic commitments.

The pace of Army transformation, particularly over the past several years, has produced important results:

• Fielding of the Stryker brigade combat team (SBCT)
• Conversion of Army units to a new structure
• Fielding of digital command capabilities to Army forces
• Fielding of enhanced joint communications capabilities