{short description of image}  
 

SOVIET VOROSHILOV ACADEMY LECTURES

 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF OFFICERS
OF THE COMMAND AND CONTROL STRUCTURE

 

Duties and responsibilities of the front commander

l. The front commander is the principal organizer of the combat operations of the front and he personally or through his staff commands and controls the troops in combat. The commander accomplishes the following tasks:

- conduct of training to insure high combat readiness of the troops, combat arms and services, and troop control organs of the front to accomplish likely combat missions in the future;

- control and supervision of the procedures used to bring the front to full strength in terms of personnel, weapons, equipment, technical and material requirements and other supplies.

2. The commander is responsible for the combat capability of subordinate troops, the organization of combat operations, the maintenance of undistrupted troop control, and successful accomplishment of combat missions.

3. The commander clarifies the combat mission by himself or jointly with the chief of staff and the chief of the political affairs department. He instructs the chief of staff on preparing the combat arms, supporting arms, and services as well as the staffs for combat and gives his instructions about the timing of preparations for the attack and combat operation. The commander estimates the situation by himself or he listens to the reports and suggestions of the chiefs of combat and combat support arms and services about the employment of their troops. He listens to the suggestions of the chief of staff about his deductions from the estimate of the situation and proposed decisions. Accordingly he makes his rational decision, issues combat missions to subordinates and gives instructions about planning the operation.

4. The commander organizes coordination among the troops, supporting troops, adjacents, and other elements of the armed forces operating in the front area of responsibility.

5. The commander issues instructions about all-round support of the operation.

6. The commander personally or through his staff controls the preparation of combat arms and combat support arms and services for the operation and for the accomplishment of the assigned mission. He extends necessary assistance to subordinate troops .

7. The commander is obliged constantly and thoroughly to evaluate and to analyze the situation during the course of the operation and to predict likely changes in the situation. Under any circumstances the commander is to make a rational and timely decision in accordance with the changes in the situation and to issue new combat missions to subordinate troops.

8. The commander should always be prepared to report to the supreme command or general staff about the situation, status and character of operations of the friendly and enemy troops, and his current decision.

9. The commander briefs the chief of staff about his concept and intention and aim. He also briefs the chief of staff about any instructions he personally issued to subordinate troops.



 
 

Duties of the chief of staff

l. The chief of staff is the first deputy of the commander and the supervisor of the front staff. Only the chief of staff is eligible to issue in the name of the commander instructions and orders to operational formations, and large units, the chiefs of combat and combat support arms and services, and other responsible officers directly under command of the front commander. He should report to the commander about all orders he has issued. The chief of staff accomplishes the following tasks or duties.

- He is responsible for all duties to be accomplished by the staff.

- The chief of staff briefs the deputy commander, chiefs of staff departments, and chiefs of combat and combat support arms and services about the mission and gives instructions about the preparation of preliminary warning orders, calendar plans, and calculations for the decision-making process. He sets the deadlines for their preparation.

- The chief of staff is constantly obliged to know the situation and to predict likely changes in the situation and to be prepared to report the following items to the commander:

(1) situation and status and character of friendly and enemy forces' operations;

(2) deductions from his estimate of the situation and his proposed decision; and

(3) measures on organization of command and control, coordination, and support of the combat action of friendly troops.

2. The chief of staff coordinates the operation of the staff and specifies the coordinating measures to all chiefs of combat and combat support arms and services concerning troop control organs and adjacents. He coordinates the operation of all organs and controls their performance.

3. The planning of the operation is conducted under the leadership of the chief of staff. The chief of staff personally prepares some important documents such as the combat directive and participates in preparation and working out of some other issues and documents. He supervises the process of their preparation.

4. The chief of staff should be aware of all orders and instructions issued by the commander and should control their execution.

5. All directives orders and instructions that should be issued to operational formations and large units as well as all plans and important combat documents are signed or approved by the chief of staff.



 
 

Duties of the chief of operations

l. The chief of operations is one of the most important department chiefs. He is responsible for training and the preparation during combat of the operation. He has the following duties:

- preparation of warning orders, calendar plans, and sometimes personally writing the combat directives and preparation of other important documents;

- preparation of calculations required for the commander to make the decision;

- planning the front operation and preparing the annexes to the plan such as the plan of the initial nuclear strike, operational concealment plan, plan of protection of troops against mass destructive weapons, plan of restoration of troop combat capabilities. The plan of employment of air assault operations, plans of movement and deployment of front troops and FUPs etc.

2. He is responsible for the issuance and conveyance of combat missions to subordinate operational formations and large units;

- collection, study and analysis of situation information;

- timely presentation and dispatch of information about the situation and regular situation reports to higher headquarters, dispatch of information about all changes in the situation to subordinate unit staffs, the combat and combat support arms and services, the headquarters of coordinating elements, and adjacents;

- organization and maintenance of continuous coordination and preparation of documents on coordination;

- organization and deployment of command posts and their relocation during the course of the operation;

- organization of signal communications and designation of the command and control signals;

- control of the preparation of troops for combat operations;

- control of accomplishment of combat missions by subordinates and extension of required assistance to them-prepare combat documents about troop control.



 
 

Duties of the chief of reconnaissance

l. The chief of reconnaissance is responsible for the training, and insures the high combat readiness of the reconnaissance troops. He exercises troop control over them and supervises the conduct of the operation of reconnaissance units and subunits. He is responsible for the following items:

- collection, study, and analysis of the derivation of deductions from reconnaissance information about the enemy and terrain and timely presentation of the important information to the chief of staff and higher commander and staff;

- derivation of the aims and tasks of reconnaissance and the allocation of required troops and reconnaissance means to accomplish these;

- preparation of the reconnaissance plan and issuance of missions to the reconnaissance department staff. The reconnaissance plan is signed by the chief of staff and approved by the commander.

- coordination of all efforts of different reconnaissance means in terms of their missions and objectives;

- preparation of units and sub-units (groups) (GRG from SPETZNAZ) at army level which has two sections each with 4 groups. Front level battalion has 35 to 40 groups operating up to 800 km deep.

- preparation of unit and subunits assigned to conduct reconnaissance and insuring their all round support;

- control of the execution of assigned instructions and orders and practical assistance to staffs and commanders of units and sub units in accomplishment of reconnaissance missions;

- organization of continuous communications with units and subunits (groups) assigned to combat reconnaissance and also with the headquarters of subordinate operational formations and large units;

- reception of reconnaissance reports from aircraft;

- organization and conduct of actions about the protection of reconnaissance units, subunits, and groups against mass destruction weapons;

- communication of reconnaissance information inside the staff and to subordinate, adjacent, and coordinating headquarters.



 
 

The duties of the chiefs of combat and combat support arms and services

The chiefs of combat and combat support arms and services are responsible for the training, command and control and high combat readiness of their respective operational formations, large units, and units. They are obliged to accomplish the following duties:

- report to the commander information on the capabilities of the enemy in their respective specialties, as well as information on the capabilities and strength of their own operational formations, large units, and units along with suggestions regarding the combat employment of their respective troops;

- prepare the required calculations for the commander to make the decision;

- assist the commander in troop control of troops during preparation and in the course of the operation;

- on the basis of the commander's decision, conduct the troop control of related operational formations, large units, and units of combat and combat support arms and services;

- plan combat employment of subordinate troops and have the plans signed by the commander;

- issue and convey combat missions to their subordinate troops based on the instructions of the commander;

- organize coordination and all round support of their respective subordinate units;

- along with the staff, and chiefs of other combat and combat support arms and services, control the correct understanding of the combat mission and also control and supervise the timely accomplishment of assigned missions as desired.

2. In the course of combat the chiefs of combat and combat support arms and services are to follow the situation and status of their subordinate units and always be prepared to report to the commander and chief of staff the information about the situation of their subordinate units.



 
 

Duties of chief of rear service - deputy commander of front for rear services

The chief of rear services is at the same time the deputy commander of the front for logistics matters. He is responsible for the training, troop control, and high combat readiness of logistics large units and installations. He is obliged to accomplish the following duties:

- maintenance of constant combat readiness of front rear services to support the front`s large operational formations, large units, and units related to combat, and combat support arms and services with all kinds of supplies and medical services;

- clarification of mission, preparation of the initial data for the rear services plan, making the decision, and organization of planning of logistical support;

- timely assignment of missions to rear service large units and installations;

- supply of all material to the troops and timely establishment and maintenance of the specified stores and their undisrupted transportation to the troops;

- preparation and maintenance of supply routes and transport means along with the establishment of provost and traffic regulation services along the main central routes;

- collection, evacuation and repair of damaged or disabled vehicles equipment and weapons;

- provision of medical assistance and treatment of wounded and sick personnel, creation of measures against epidemics, and prophylactic measures during the operation;

- preparation of mobile technical bases for rocket and missile units and depots for rocket fuel;

- organization of protection and defense and security of logistic installations and maintenance of order in the rear services area;

- veterinary support, lodgement, and boarding of troops and exploitation of local economy (captured supplies);

- insure the maneuver, movement and extension of supplies, transportation vehicles and location of repair and evacuation units, medical installations, mobile technical bases of rockets, railroad units, pipeline units, and motor routes in accordance with the situation and the advance of front troops;

- continuous control of accomplishment of the given logistic orders and instructions and extension of assistance to logistical units, large units, and installations.