FM 101-5 Staff Officers' Field Manual The Staff and Combat Orders

55-66 STAFF DOCTRINES AND FUNCTIONS• 55. DUTIES OF SENDING AND RECEIVING HEADQUARTERS.—a.The commander of the headquarters sending a liaison officershould—(1) Oive the liaison officer definite and detailed instructions, in writing if appropriate, as to the liaison mission.(2) Inform the liaison officer of the commander's plans,especially as they affect the unit to which he is to be sent.(3) Insure that adequate facilities are available for communication (signal and transportation means) between theliaison officer and the sending headquarters.b. The commander of the headquarters receiving a liaisonofficer should—(1) Oive the liaison officer all assistance possible, compatible with the normal operations of the headquarters.(2) Keep the liaison officer informed as to the plans forfuture employment of the unit visited.(3) Give the liaison officer free access to those staff sectionsor troops having data pertinent to the liaison mission.c. The contact established by liaison officers does not relieve commanders from the responsibility of keeping the nexthigher, lower, and adjacent commands informed of the situation through normal channels.SECTION VISTANDING OPERATING PROCEDURE!• 56. GENERAL.—a. Standing operating procedure coversthose features of operations which lend themselves to a definite or standardized procedure without loss of effectiveness.It should be provided that the procedure is applicable unlessprescribed otherwise In a particular case; thus the flexibilitynecessary in special situations is retained,b. The purposes of standing operating procedure are—(1) To simplify and abbreviate combat orders, expeditetheir transmission, and permit their being understood easilyand certainly.(2) To simplify and perfect the training of the troops.(3) To promote understanding and teamwork between thecommander, staff, and troops.34