Staff Officer Responsibilities

Other staff officers have a role in this process. The following is a list of these officers and their responsibilities:

• The S3 makes sure the assets are available and can conduct the mission and the R&S plan supports the overall mission of the unit.
• The CI officer apprises you of the vulnerability of your R&S assets to enemy collection and target capabilities.
• The FSO coordinates indirect fires planned to support R&S assets and recommends establishing appropriate restrictive fire support coordination measures to provide for troop safety.
• The R&S asset commander is responsible for planning targets and indirect fires for that element.
• The engineer officer supports the R&S effort by collecting information on the terrain and obstacles.
• The IEWSE officer supports the R&S effort by guiding the MI battalion assets to assist in answering the PIR.
• The ADA officer plans air defense for the R&S assets and also provides information on enemy air activity.
• The NBC officer integrates NBC operations with R&S missions.
• The aviation officer provides air movement for R&S assets and also information on enemy activity while in flight.
• The ALO provides close air support for R&S missions as well as in-flight reports on enemy movement.

These staff officers are not cast aside upon completion of the R&S plan. They should be kept updated on the current R&S situation. These officers provide recommendations during R&S operations and ensure their assets are operating as instructed.

The DST is a tool used in the IPB process that brings the staff officers together to plan the mission. The DST also ensures involvement among the S2, the S3, and the FSO in planning R&S missions.