1-15 Cmdr&COS Roles

Narrator: Planning is a fundamental responsibility of command. The commander does not only participate in planning, he drives the process. His personal involvement and guidance are keys to planning. The commander uses planning to increase understanding of the environment and the problem to support his decision making. The Commander is responsible for all that the command does or fails to do. He sets the tempo, provides the appropriate guidance to facilitate the planning process, makes the decisions, and issues the appropriate orders. The Chief of Staff for the MEF supervises the staff planning. He resolves disputes and redistributes staff resources such as computers, copy machines, and personnel. He keeps the staff focused, monitors the production schedule, and serves as the quality control officer for all staff work. The Chief of Staff also chairs all the commander's briefs and meetings, except his meetings with his subordinate commanders, unless directed otherwise.