HEITC General Staff

Running the EITC's Military Forces
The  Company's General Staff and officially HEITC  General Staff, is a full-time body at the head of the Company's Military  and later, the 1st HEITC Battalion of Black Guard. It is currently commanded by General George Clementes.  Responsible for the continuous study of all aspects of war  and for drawing up and reviewing plans for mobilization or campaign. It existed unofficially from 1747, and was formally established by law in 1749, the first general staff  in existence. It was distinguished by the formal selection of its officers by intelligence and proven merit  rather than patronage or wealth, and by the exhaustive and rigorously structured training which its staff officers undertook. Its rise and development gave the HEITC armed forces a decisive strategic advantage over their adversaries.

In a broader sense, the HEITC General Staff corps consisted of those officers qualified to perform staff duties, and formed a unique military fraternity. Their exhaustive training was designed not only to weed out the less motivated or less able candidates, but also to produce a body of professional military experts with common methods and outlook, and an almost monastic dedication to their profession. General Staff–qualified officers would alternate between line and staff duties but would remain lifelong members of this special organization.