CAS3 Staff Officer Guide - U.S. Army

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Staff Officer's Guide
OBE Overtaken or overcome by events.
Prebrief A briefing to an intermediary before giving the briefing to the requesting
official. Also referred to as a “dry run.”
Primary staff For a unit, the chief of staff (or executive officer) and the coordinating staff
officers, G1 through G6 (or S1 through S6). For a garrison, the deputy
garrison commander and the directors.
Pump somebody up Brief an individual until he is fully informed on a subject. Term frequently
used in relation to staff briefings, where individual doing the briefing may
represent several organizations. Other organizations involved “pump up” the
briefer in their areas of interest.
Scrub To refine a paper by eliminating excess verbiage, getting data down to
essentials. To scrub is to tidy up and “tighten up” phraseology and data
displays. Scrub can also refer to cancellation of a meeting or conference.
Short fuse A short deadline or suspense.
Shotgun Simultaneous staffing or distribution of the same document to several
offices.
Smoke screen Attempt to obscure or draw attention away from the real issue.
Staff principal The officer in charge of a staff agency (e.g., ACofS, G1 or S1 in a unit or the
director of a garrison directorate).
Strawman A concept paper or other document prepared as a basis for discussion or
coordination. Sometimes referred to as a “think piece,” a strawman is
usually the forerunner of a later document.
Surface To raise an issue.
Suspense Time allowed to complete an action (e.g., suspense is 5 February).
Talking paper Paper used by key official as outline for briefing or discussion.
Track v. 1. To monitor an action (follow up) or determine its status.
n. 2. The wording in a
staff paper follows a logical and understandable sequence.
Turn around To return an action to the officer or agency for correction or revision. Also
refers to reversal of an approved position by higher authority.
Waffle Intentional or unintentional use of phraseology that skirts the issue.
Whatif-ing Effort to identify all conceivable eventualities and develop contingency plans
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