Introduction to Operational Battle Staffs

Dr. Christopher E. Larsen
Author of:
The Small Unit Tactics SMARTbook, 1-3rd editions (2008). The Lightning Press.
www.thelightni...

(Handgun: Springfield XD45)

[@an.appeal.to.heaven3810]

Babe wake up, New Christopher Larson Video dropped.

[@LeaveMeAlonePlz]

Top Tier Comment right there lol

[@deltaraider87]

Goosebumps....

[@IoachimSavianPopovici]

I'm currently trying to assemble an airsoft battalion. I read the Army field manual on commander and staff, but this video is what helped me really get it.

[@christopherlarsen7788]

Glad to help, brother.

[@JohnDoe-r6p]

Regarding the last 20 seconds - I'd argue that when it's done all wrong, it makes equally fascinating and even more entertaining to watch. That is, of course, when you and I are not involved.

[@JohnnyBeGood-88]

Introduction 1:48 What is Battle Staff? Command Team vs Battle Staff 3:57 Different Battle Staff sizes 5:00 S-staff vs G-Staff vs J-Staff 6:46 Command Team 8:50 S1 Personell 9:44 S2 Intelligence 10:42 S3 Operations 12:58 S4 Logistics 14:29 S5 Civilians 15:52 S6 Comms 16:40 S7 Training 18:04 Conclusion

[@christopherlarsen7788]

Wow. Good breakdown. Honestly, I should start doing this myself. Helpful.

[@FarmerDrew]

My Stepfather was an attache to a General in the KS National Guard during Vietnam and I always wondered what he did beyond courier and driver. This helps explains the HR aspect.

[@deltaraider87]

Thanks Doc! Are you opposed to doing a video on resupply/logistics operations (combat and otherwise)?

[@christopherlarsen7788]

No, not opposed to the idea at all. I just haven't gotten around to that topic yet. I think that might be one of those topics I'd like to bring in a subject matter expert, like Les Winner for the Pegasus Test Channel. Good idea though.

[@rustym.shackelford5546]

So Doc, when you mention Sections being attached to a "Shop," then wouldn't that mean that a "Shop" of any kind is usually as big as a Platoon? Mainly to accommodate the personnel & "Sections" needed.

[@christopherlarsen7788]

Oh my gosh, they can be SO MUCH LARGER than a mere platoon. But...it depends on the shop, and the echelon of the battle staff. At the battalion level, an S2 Intel Shop might be one lieutenant and one junior NCO. That's it. Two guys. At the division level, the G2 Intel Shop might have an attached platoon of Pathfinders. Not kidding! To put that into perspective, the HQ of a battalion is about +100 Soldiers, give or take. At the division level, the HQ can be +900 Soldiers!

[@rustym.shackelford5546]

@@christopherlarsen7788 Think Battle Order shows Division HQ Units as Battalions. Now I know why.

[@rustym.shackelford5546]

@@christopherlarsen7788 What, would you think, would be a "rule of thumb" in terms of Shop/Staff Size to Unit Size?

[@HankMcGurk]

Now that it all makes sense, I'm ready to conquer Montreal. It might piss off the Canadians. What would the Intelligence assessment would be for an action to seize Montreal by force? Makes more sense to me than deploying all over Europe because the EU + NATO has a dick where a brain should be. We could have a little diplomacy in Venezuela if investors weren't always so concerned a change in Government would abscond with the infrastructure. Long ago, in a time beyond most of the scope of my life, people understood the concept of mutually beneficial arrangements without needing a Carrier Group or Battalions to make the deal worthwhile. Nixon and Kissinger were of the opinion blood is cheaper than gold, and oil is as good as gold. Deal did work for a little over 50 years. 50 more years to hoard the European gold we took from the Nazis thieving from everyone else. 50 more years to think about how much more efficient the Japanese were than the Nazis at looting; in a more gold rich Asia. 50 more years to realize it wasn't the Japanese Emperor dethroned Truman wanted. Truman would force atomic capitulation for the whole of the loot. There's another Century of new jokes to be told about Polish common sense, Turkish pride, and a backward place called Lithuania powerful enough to bring Germany, France and Italy to the table by the Sword of Damocles. I just love how the Turks stuck it to NATO for Sweden and Finland; now the suicidally insane Lithuanians make the same play. There is no better sport than watching the culturally rabid Colosseum of Europeans find a way to get along with Russian Iskanders and American Soldiers as pawns. As for Montreal and Venezuela, I will return.

[@FarmerDrew]

They are French and so they would seem to surrender but realistically you would be dealing with rich food making you fat, loose women making you sick, sappers and saboteurs making you uneasy, your men going AWOL to start poutine restaurants in the wild. There's no point.

[@derrickwalker538]

Big Army Hoooah on the video!!

[@christopherlarsen7788]

Thanks, brother.

[@finn0h]

Good insight! Coming from grassroots level in a line unit I never had to bother with thinking about any of this as I trust our senior officers and HQs to handle their side as I do mine. S5 and S7 I wasnt familiar with beforehand. I dont know if in FDF these shops are independent but I think they are under S1 that is more general administration type of shop. If there is some FDF officer/HQ Coy man here in the comments please correct me.

[@christopherlarsen7788]

For many, many years in US doctrine, 'Training' was placed as a sort of second seat to the S3 Operations Officer. In more recent decades, 'Training' was broken off to form the S7 Training Shop because this responsibility had become too large. Historically speaking, I believe you'll find that regimental staffs included just S1 through S6 shops.

[@gunterstraus606]

Everyone needs a chair guy

[@christopherlarsen7788]

Yup. Tactics bridge up to the bigger operational picture. Otherwise, we're winning battle after battle, but never winning the war.

[@gunterstraus606]

@@christopherlarsen7788 Pulling a trigger doesn't make a difference if it doesn't serve a goal. Reminds me of that Heinlein quote about War being controlled force for a purpose.

[@josephg.3370]

👍

[@FrankieHustla]

16:40 "TITLE TEXT HERE" 🤓