CAS3 Staff Officer Guide - U.S. Army

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Staff Officer's Guide
Coordinate with the SGS, aides, or other staff officers to learn how much the senior officer may know
about the subject you are briefing.
b. Know your time limit. A 30-minute briefing means you have 30 minutes to present your
briefing and answer any questions. You are not doing the senior officer a favor by announcing that
you will only need 15 minutes of a scheduled 30-minute timeframe as you begin your briefing; the
senior officer has already set his or her calendar. Similarly, you will rarely be allowed to continue a
briefing that has run overtime. If you feel you need more or less time than previously allotted,
arrange for a change in time in advance.
c. Prepare for less time. Always be prepared to give the key points of your briefing in less time
than allotted should the senior attendee have a sudden schedule change. In some instances, you may
have to brief the individual as you walk or ride with him or her to the next scheduled location.
d. Call the senior attendee’s office for a final check of his or her schedule. As a minimum, call
within 24 hours of the briefing. Know what precedes you and follows you on the schedule to predict
possible changes in time.
e. Rehearse. Proper rehearsal allows you to present a smooth briefing with minimal stumbling,
with good eye contact, and in the time prescribed. Rehearse in front of other officers to gain
feedback.
f. Preview your briefing aids in the same location you will present your briefing, using the same
equipment you will use for your briefing, and sitting in the chair(s) the senior attendee(s) will use.
Don’t neglect to consider the effects of sunlight entering any windows.
g. Plan for the inevitable. Always have several backup plans in case the electricity goes out, the
computer fails, the projection bulb burns out, etc.
h. Prepare for the briefing ahead of time and get your rest. Lack of sleep, lack of rehearsal, and
too much coffee and sugar prior to the briefing can contribute to a speech pattern that is too fast and
difficult to understand. Remember, you have not communicated effectively until the audience
comprehends.
i. Prepare a memorandum for record (MFR) for your files to record what transpired during the
briefing. Designate someone from your office to record what the audience’s comments were during
the briefing.
© 2005 CAS3 For Instructional Purposes Only
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