staff officer

English translation: Commissioned officer assigned to a commander's staff

15:15 Feb 22, 2009

English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Military / Defense

English term or phrase: staff officer

In the text below, what does "staff officer" mean? Thanks in advance.

There he decided to detach another 1,000 men from Wayne's command. Lee was offered command of this advance guard, but he declined. Washington then turned to Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, who was only 20 years old. Lafayette eagerly accepted. Washington's young staff officer, Alexander Hamilton, was dispatched to assist him.

Alexandre Reis Not a translator KudoZ activity Questions: 899 (none open) (15 closed without grading) Answers: 0 Brazil
Local time: 11:25

Selected answer:Commissioned officer assigned to a commander's staff

Explanation:
a commissioned officer assigned to a military commander's staff
http://www.answers.com/topic/staff-officer-2

Staff (military)
A military staff is a group of officers and enlisted personnel that provides a bi-directional flow of information between a commander and subordinate units. Officers oversee staff sections, Senior Enlisted Personnel task personnel in the maintenance of tactical equipment and vehicles. Senior Analysts are tasked with the finalizing of reports, and enlisted personnel participate in the acquisition of information from subordinate staffs and units. The purpose of a military staff is mainly that of providing accurate, timely information which by category represents information on which command decisions are based. The key application is that of decisions that effectively manage unit resources. While information flow toward the commander is a priority, information that is useful or contingent in nature is communicated to lower staffs and units.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staff_(military)

Selected response from:

Kim Metzger
Mexico
Local time: 08:25

Grading comment

4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED

4 +3

Commissioned officer assigned to a commander's staff

Kim Metzger

4 +1

An officer on his staff

Jack Doughty

Answers

4 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

Commissioned officer assigned to a commander's staff

Kim Metzger
Mexico
Local time: 08:25
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 20

5 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

An officer on his staff

Explanation:
Fff in the military sence, see the reference.or a definition of sta

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Note added at 5 hrs (2009-02-22 20:20:45 GMT)
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Should read: "For staff in the military sense..."

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staff_Officer

Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 15:25
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 51

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