Administration Roles

As second-in-command of a Section, the Section 2IC (or Assistant Section Commander) assists the Section Commander in the administration and development of the members of the section; the smallest administrative unit in the task force containing typically up to 15 regulars. The roles and duties of Section 2ICs vary due to the discretion of the Section Commander. Typical duties include monitoring the progression of members of the section, handling administrative reports - delivering praise to members of the section who have overperformed and handling corrections of policy violations where members of the section have stepped outside of UNITAF policy.

Section 2IC is a Corporal (Cpl/E-4) billet position and rank is issued on the taking of the office - the rank belongs to the position and not the office holder. Section 2ICs are part of the NCO (Non-comissioned Officer) group, which comes with a number of other responsibilities and privileges, which can be found in the Administration SOP. Typical operational duties of Section 2ICs are Instructors, Team Leaders and on occasion Mission Support.

Section 2ICs report directly to the Section Commander, and should the Section Commander be away, on-leave or unreachable, assume the duties of the Section Commander and report directly to the Troop Commander.

A Section Commander is in charge of the administration and development of the members of their section; the smallest administrative unit in the task force containing typically up to 15 regulars. Section Commanders are supported by a Section 2IC to monitor the progression of members of the section, handle administrative reports - deliver praise to members of the section who have overperformed and handle corrections of policy violations where members of the section have stepped outside of UNITAF policy.

Section Commander is a Sergeant (Sgt/E-5) or (SSgt/E-6) billet position and rank is issued on the taking of the office, - the rank belongs to the position and not the office holder. Section Commanders are part of the NCO (Non-comissioned Officer) group, which comes with a number of other responsibilities and privileges, which can be found in the Administration SOP. Typical operational duties of Section Commanders are Instructors, Squad Leaders and on occasion Mission Support.

Section Commanders report directly to the Troop Commander, or Troop Sergeant if the Troop Commander is not contactable or on-leave.

A Troop Sergeant is a senior Sergeant in the Organisational Chain of Command. As second-in-command of a Troop a large administrative unit containing typically up to 35 personnel. The Troop Sergeant supports the Troop Commander in the administration, development and support of the Troops personnel. Due to the discretion of the Troop Commander, the role of a Troop Sergeant can vary.

Troop Sergeants support the Troop Commander in communicating with and reguarly supporting the Section Commanders of the troop with their duties, as well as helping to develop other NCOs and SNCOs and Officers. Troop Sergeant is a Sergeant First Class (SFC) or E-7 rank, and therefore falls into the Senior Non-Commissioned Officer group, coming with its own responsibilities and privileges. The rank as any other, belongs to the office and not the holder. Typical operational duties of Troop Sergeants are Senior or Cheif Instructors, Squad Leaders, Platoon Leaders and on occasion Mission Support.

Troop Commanders are responsible for a large number of personnel in the Organisational Chain of Command (ORGCOC). Supported by a senior NCO known as a Troop Sergeant, the Troop Commander supports the Troops Section Commanders with the administration of the Troop, addressing the escalation of reports from section and troop level to command level, as well as focusing on the development of leadership - both of the troops NCOs and it regulars.

As Troop Commander, they take full responsibility for the troop - handling the entry and exit of personnel from the troop, promotions and selection boards, conduct reviews, policy violations and medal issue. The troop commander has the final say within the troop. As a (O-1) 2nd Lieutenant office, the Troop Commander is a Commissioned Officer and reports directly either to a Company Commander (CC), or Commanding Officer (TFCO) - depending on the size of the task-force.

As an Officer, Troop Commanders have a number of other responsibilities which can be found in administrative SOP. Typical combat duties of Troop Commanders are Squad Leaders, Platoon Commanders, Company Commanders or in some cases, Mission Support.

The Company Sergeant Major is the most senior non-commissioned officer in a company sized unit; one of the largest units in the task force. Responsible for the NCO support channel, the CSM supports the Company Commander as his assistant with the administration of the Company, including but not limited to the selection, training and development of the Company NCOs and Officers.

In addition, the CSM is a vital leader who steps in when the Company Commander is absent, supporting the Companys' Troop and Section Commanders in the execution of their duties. The CSM reports directly to the Company Commander, and in the event of his absence, to the Commanding Officer or Executive Officer.

A Company Commander is a senior officer in charge of a Company sized unit. With up to 100 personnel, a company is one of the largest single units in the task force. The Company Commander is reponsible for not only the Officers and NCOs under their command, but nearly 100 active personnel from the Troops under his command.

The Company Commander is responsible for the training, development, activity, operations and all other elements that make up the performance of their unit and with the support from their Officers, and the Company Sergeant Major executes the orders of the Commanding Officer, while advising them on matters arising from the chain of command.

As part of the Command Staff an Executive Officer is the primary deputy to the Commanding Officer, in a Battalion sized unit of up to 500 personnel.

The XO is typically the second-in-command, and serves as the day-to-day manager of the command staff. The XO is typically responsible for the management of day-to-day activities, such as administration, freeing a commander to concentrate on operational planning and execution. The XO may take charge in the absence of the commander.

The task-force commanding officer (TFCO) as head of the Command Staff is the officer in command of the task force. The commanding officer is given wide latitude to run the unit as they see fit. In this respect, commanding officers have significant responsibilities and duties including; mission effectiveness, duty of care, and powers (for example, discipline and punishment). Commanding Officers may be of any commissioned rank and the rank will vary depending on the size of the task-force at any given time.

The commanding officer is often assisted by an executive officer (XO) or second-in-command (2i/c), who handles personnel and day-to-day matters, and a senior enlisted advisor. The Commanding Officer is also supported by a board of Officers and Senior Enlisted Advisors known as the staff headquarters, which is often abbreivated to UNISTAFF (United Task Force Staff), who support and advise the Commanding Officer on policy and strategy matters.