Chapter 553. To increase the efficiency of the Army
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/statutes-at-large/vol-32/chapter-553-3692214·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
CHAP. 553.— An Act To increase the efficiency of the Army. February 14, 1903.[[Public, No. 88](/us/pl/57/88).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, Army.General Staff Corps established. That there is here by established a General Staff Corps, to be composed of officers detailed from the Army at large, under such rules as may be prescribed by the President. 831 Sec. 2. That the duties of the General Staff Corps shall be to prepareDuties of. plans for the national defense and for the mobilization of the military forces in time of war; to investigate and report upon all questions affecting the efficiency of the Army and its state of preparation for military operations; to render professional aid and assistance to the Secretary of War and to general officers and other superior commanders, and to act as their agents in informing and coordinating the action of all the different officers who arc subject under the terms of this Act to the supervision of the Chief of Staff; and to perform such other military duties not otherwise assigned by law as may be from time to time prescribed by the President.
Sec. 3. That the General Staff Corps shall consist of one Chief ofComposition of. Staff and two general officers, all to be detailed by the President from officers of the Army at large not below the grade of brigadier-general; four colonels, six lieutenant-colonels, and twelve majors, to be detailed from the corresponding grades in the Army at large, under such rules for selection as the President may prescribe; twenty captains, to be detailed from officers of the Army at large of the grades of captain or first lieutenant, who while so serving shall have the rank, pay, and allowances of captain mounted.
AH officers detailed in the GeneralTerm of service. Staff Corps shall be detailed therein for periods of four years, unless sooner relieved. While serving in the General Staff Corps, officersTemporary assignments. may be temporarily assigned to duty with any branch of the Army. Upon being relieved from duty in theSubsequent detail restricted. General Staff Corps, officers shall return to the branch of the Army in which they hold permanent commission, and no officer shall be eligible to a further detail in the General Staff Corps until he shall have served two years with the branch of the Army in which commissioned, except in case of emergencyExceptions. or in time of war.
Sec. 4. That the Chief of Staff, under the direction of the PresidentChief of Staff.Duties of. or of the Secretary of War, under the direction of the President, shall have supervision of all troops of the line and of the Adjutant-General’s, Inspector-General’s, Judge-Advocate’s, Quartermaster’s, Subsistence, Medical. Pay, and Ordnance departments, the Corps of Engineers, and the Signal Corps, and shall perform such other military duties not otherwise assigned by law as may be assigned to him by the President.
Duties now prescribed by statute for the Commanding General of the Army as a member of the Board of Ordnance and Fortification and ofVol. 25. p.489.Vol. 22, p.555. the Board of Commissioners of the Soldiers’ Home shall be performed by the Chief of Staff or other officer designated by the President. Acts and parts of Acts authorizing aids-de-camp and military secretariesAids-de-camp and military secretaries.[R.S., secs. 1096–1098, p. 203](/us/rs/s1096–1098/p203).Chief of Artillery to serve as additional member.Rank, pay, etc. shall not apply to general officers of the General Staff Corps.
Sec. 5. That the Chief of Artillery shall hereafter serve as an additional member of the General Staff and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate shall have the rank, pay, and allowances of a brigadier-general and when the next vacancy occurs in the office, of brigadier-general of the line, it shall not be filled, and thereafterNumber of brigadier-generals limited.*Post*, p. 1021. the number of brigadier-generals of the line, exclusive of the Chief of Artillery, shall not exceed fourteen; and the provisions of the foregoingIn effect August 15, 1903. sections of this Act shall take effect August fifteenth, nineteen hundred and three.
Approved, February 14, 1903.