The Impact of the Continental Staff System

On July 1, 2003, a modified Continental Staff System was superimposed over the familiar and long established operating structure that shaped the formations of the Jamaica Defence Force over the years, and with which all serving members of the military had become familiar. The new staff system brought changes to the JDF’s operating structure, particularly to the orbats at the Force and Unit headquarters.

The listing and wire diagrams below detail the changes in designations/appointments at the headquarter levels of the Jamaican military.

(For more information about the Continental Staff System and impact on the Jamaica Defence Force, see feature article “Jamaica’s Military Adopts NATO’s Continental Staff System”).

New staff appointment Changes at Headquarters JDF

    Old Designation                                                                                           New Designation

Regimental Colonel ………………………………….….…………………………..………… Inspector General

Staff Officer Administration ………………………….…………….. SO1 G1 (Personnel and Administration)

Assistant Staff Officer Administration (Personnel) .……………………………………. SO2 G1 (Personnel)

Staff Officer Legal ………………………………………..……………………………………… SO2 G1 (Legal)

Officer in charge Military Records Section ………………………………………………… SO2 G1 (Records)

Staff Officer Operations and Training ………………….SO1 G2/G3 (Intelligence, Operations and Training)

Assistant Staff Officer Intelligence ……………………………………………………… SO3 G2 (Intelligence)

Assistant Staff Officer Operations ………..…………………………………………….. SO2 G3 (Operations)

Assistant Staff Officer Training ………..………………….………………………………… SO3 G3 (Training)

Force Signals Officer ……………………………………………………………….SO3 G3 (Communications)

Staff Officer Finance ………………………………………..…………………..SO1 G4 (Finance & Logistics)

Assistant Staff Officer Finance …………………..……………………….………………….SO3 G4 (Finance)

Assistant Staff Officer ASO Admin (Log) ………………………………………………….SO3 G4 (Logistics)

Staff Officer SO Plans & Projects……………….……SO1 G5 (Plans, Information Systems & Civil Liaison)

Staff Officer Information Systems …………………………….SO2 G5 (Management Information Systems)

Staff Officer Public Information ………………………………………….……….SO2 G5 (Civil Military Affairs)

Assistant Staff Officer Information Systems …………………SO3 G5 (Management Information Systems)