Combat Critical Tasks for an Aide-de-Camp

The purpose of this monograph was to determine what tasks are critical for an aide-de-camp to perform during combat operations. Three areas provided data for this research: historical documentation, doctrinal and regulatory guidance, and contemporary input. The contemporary input was gathered through a questionnaire distributed to officers who served as aides during combat operations. The questionnaire quarried officers having served in that capacity since 1989. The study found five broad functional areas under which combat critical tasks could be organized: (1) provide the general communications support, (2) expedite information flow to the general, (3) provide responsive transportation support to the general, (4) provide security/personal safety for the general, and (5) provide for the general's personal support requirements. The combat critical tasks are too numerous to fit within this abstract. They are listed in the conclusions section. The study also collected numerous tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) for aide duties in combat. The significance of this study is in addressing a lack of written material available for an aide specifically dealing with combat duties.