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

STAFF OFFICERS' FIELD MANUALTHE STAFF AND COMBAT OEDEESFM 101-5(The matter contained herein, together with FM 21-30, August 1,1939, supersedes part one, Staff Officers' Field Manual, September.26, 1932.)CHAPTER 1STAFF DOCTRINES AND FUNCTIONSParagraphsSECTION I. Doctrines______________________... 1-7n. The general staff.__________________-_. 8-17m. The special staff.._________________... 18-40IV. Staff records, maps, and reports________... 41-46V. Liaison, ________________________i—_ 47-65VI. Standing operating procedure___—___—.. 56SECTION IDOCTRINES• 1. COMMAND RESPONSIBILITY.—a. The commander alone Isresponsible to his superior for all that his unit does or fails todo. He cannot shift this responsibility to his staff or tosubordinate commanders.b. All orders from a higher to a subordinate unit are issuedby the commander of the higher unit to the commander ofthe subordinate unit. If It is Impracticable to comply withthe orders received, due to an emergency or a change In thesituation, the subordinate commander should so report to hissuperior. If it is impracticable to report, the subordinatecommander should act according to his judgment and thepolicy of the commander, and report at the earliest practicable time the action so taken.c. In order to expedite the execution of orders and to promote teamwork between units, a commander may authorizehis staff officers to communicate directly with the staff officers of other units as to the details of orders Issued or received. Interstaff communication, when used, should bearranged preferably by the commanders concerned.• 2. DEFINITION AND .GENERAL FUNCTIONS OF THE STAFF.—a.The staff of a unit consists of the officers who assist the commander in his exercise of command. (See chart.)1