The Officer Corps in Hearts of Iron IV

No Steps Back and the Barbarossa update introduced a new way to specialize your military with the Officer Corps. This powerful tool allows you to manage your high command, generals, and doctrines in one location. The main benefit of the officer corps, however, is the introduction of spirits.

Spirits are potent boosts that you can apply to each branch of your military in exchange for Army Experience. Keep in mind when selecting a spirit that you can only have one of each type active at once.

Here you will manage your Chief of Army, land doctrine, and your army spirits. Army section gives you a unique option over the other military branches — the ability to select a preferred tactic. Selecting a preferred tactic increases the chance it will appear in combat by 25%. Army spirits are divided into three sections, each providing boosts to different aspects of the army.

army command section of the officer corp in hearts of iron 4

Spirits in this section will provide bonuses to your army officers. They each cost 20 Army Experience to activate.

Spirit
Effects
Requirements
academy scholarshipsAcademy Scholarships
Army Leader Cost: -30%
Starting Army Leader Level: +1
Commander as Advisor cost: -75%
New officers have no personality traits when hired
Ideology:30px communismCommunist
best of the bestBest of the Best
Starting Army Leader Level: +2
Army Intelligence to others: -5%
New officers have no personality traits when hired
Ideology:30px democracyDemocratic
bold attackBold Attack
Officers have a 50% chance to gain +1 Attack on level up
None
embrace the futureEmbrace the Future
New officers have a 50% chance to start with the Armor Officer Trait
Panzer Leader trait XP gain: +20%
Doctrine:22px mobile warfareMobile Warfare
engineering schoolsEngineering Schools
New officers have a 50% chance to start with the Engineer Officer trait.
Engineer trait XP gain: +20%
Fortress Buster and Scavenger trait XP gain: +10%
Doctrine:22px superior firepowerSuperior Firepower
inventive leadershipInventive Leadership
Trickster, Commando, Naval Invader trait XP gain: +20%
New Officers: 50% chance to begin with one of Trickster, Commando, or Naval Invader
None
meticulous preparationMeticulous Preparation
Officers have a 50% chance to gain +1 Planning and Logistics on level up
None
political loyaltyPolitical Loyalty
Military Leader Cost: -50%
Party Popularity Stability: +15%
New officers start with either the Politically Connected or the Media Personality trait.
Ideology:30px fascism30px neutralityFascist or Non-Aligned
tenacious defenseTenacious Defense
Officers have a 50% chance to gain +1 Defense on level up.
None
the queen of battleThe Queen of Battle
New officers have a 50% chance to start with the Infantry Officer trait.
Infantry Leader trait XP gain: +20%
Doctrine:22px mass assaultMass Assault
theatre trainingTheatre Training
New Officers: 50% chance to start with either the Brilliant Strategist or Inflexible Strategist trait.
All terrain traits XP gain: +20%
Doctrine:22px grand battle planGrand Battle Plan

This spirit has a selection of battalion bonuses and miscellaneous enhancements for your army. It costs 35 Army Experience to activate one.

Spirit
Effects
Requirements
professional officer corpsProfessional Officer Corps
Army Experience: +5%
Daily Command Power: +0.20
Land Doctrines Cost -5%
None
proper heritageProper Heritage
Supply Penalties on Cored Territory: -20%
Cavalry Attack: +5%
Cavalry Unit Design Cost: -100%
None
elevated engineering corpsElevated Engineering Corps
Entrenchment Speed: +10%
Railway Gun Bombardment: +5%
Engineer Company Unit Design Cost: -100%
Engineer Trait XP GainL +25%
None
quick improvisationQuick Improvisation
Planning Speed: +20%
Daily Command power: +0.20
Command Abilities Cost: -20%
None
relief of commandRelief of Command
Army Experience Gain: +25%
Army Advisor Cost: -50%
Ideology:30px democracyDemocratic
ideological loyaltyIdeological Loyalty
Weekly Manpower: +500
Encirclement penalty: -20%
Ideology:30px communismCommunist
state serves the militaryState serves the Military
Political Power: +10%
Conscription Laws Cost: -25%
Ideology:30px fascismFascist
tip of the spearTip of the Spear
Naval Invasion Capacity: +10
Extra Paratrooper and Marine Supply Grace: +24 Hours
Naval Invasion Planning: +20%
Marine, Mountaineer, and Paratroop Unit Design Cost: -100%
Doctrine:22px grand battle planGrand Battle Plan
overwhelming firepower2Overwhelming Firepower
Artillery experience gain from combat: +10%
Support, Line, and Motorized Artillery Unit Design Cost: -100%
Infantry Unit Design Cost: -100%
All Self-Propelled Artillery, besides modern, Unit Design Cost: -100%
Doctrine:22px superior firepowerSuperior Firepower
bayonett strengthBayonet Strength
 Infantry experience gain from combat: +10%
 Infantry Unit Design Cost: âˆ’100%
 Motorized and Mechanized Infantry Unit Design Cost: -100%
Doctrine:22px mass assaultMass Assault
motorization driveMotorization Drive
 Motorized and Mechanized experience gain from combat: +10%
 All Tank Unit Design Cost: -100%
 Motorized and Mechanized Infantry Unit Design Cost: -100%
Doctrine:22px mobile warfareMobile Warfare

Spirits of Division Command offer boosts to your battle stats and increase the chance of using specific tactics. Each spirit costs 50 Army Experience to activate.

Spirit
Effects
Requirements
static warfareStatic Warfare
Entrenchment speed: +10%
Max Entrenchment: +10%
Chance of Elastic Defense or Overwhelming Fire Tactic: +100%
None
flexible organizationFlexible Organization
Divisions speed: +5%
Organization Loss when Moving: -15%
Preferred Tactics Selection cost: âˆ’15
None
aggressive reconnaissanceAggressive Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance: +15%
Intel from combat: +15%
Chance of Infiltration Assault Tactic: +100%
None
reserve officersReserve Officers
Division training time: -15%
Chance of Elastic Defense or Overwhelming Fire Tactic: +100%
None
victory or deathVictory or Death
Organization loss when below 25%: -15%
Chance of Elastic Defense or Overwhelming Fire Tactic: +100%
None
logistical focusLogistical Focus
Supply Consumption: -5%
Navy/Air Fuel Consumption: -5%
Chance of Elastic Defense or Overwhelming Fire Tactic: +100%
Doctrine:22px grand battle planGrand Battleplan
smoke and fireSmoke and Fire
Breakthrough: +5%
Chance of Elastic Defense or Overwhelming Fire Tactic: +100%
Doctrine:22px superior firepowerSuperior Firepower
operational reservesOperational Reserves
HP: +10%
Chance of Elastic Defense or Overwhelming Fire Tactic: +100%
Doctrine:22px mass assaultMass Assault
maneuver warfareManeuver Warfare
Divisions Speed: +5%
Coordination: +5%
Chance of Elastic Defense or Overwhelming Fire Tactic: +100%
Doctrine:22px mobile warfareMobile Warfare

This section lets you manage your Chief of Navy, naval doctrine, and three naval spirits. Similar to the army spirits, the naval spirits are divided into three sections, designed to enhance different aspects of your navy.

navy command section of the officer corps in hearts of iron 4

Spirits in this category will improve your admirals. The cost to activate one is 20 Navy Experience.

Spirit
Effects
Requirements
instilled aggressionInstilled Aggression
Admirals have a 20% chance to gain +1 Attack on level up
None
calculated restraintCalculated Restraint
Admirals have a 20% chance to gain +1 Defense on level up
None
signals trainingSignals Training
Admirals have a 20% chance to gain +1 Maneuvering and Coordination on level up
None
academy scholarshipsAcademy Scholarships
Navy Leader Cost: -40%
Starting level of new navy leaders: +1
New Admirals have no personality traits gained on hiring
None
best of the bestBest of the Best
Starting level of new navy leaders: +2
-5% Navy intelligence to others
New Admirals have no personality traits gained on hiring.
None
grand fleetGrand Fleet
Superior Tactician trait XP gain: +20%
Ironside trait XP: +20%
New Admirals have a 50% chance to begin with the Gunnery Expert trait.
Doctrine:24px fleet in beingFleet in Being
convoy warfareConvoy Warfare
Sea Wolf trait XP gain: +20%
Blockade Runner trait XP: +20%
New Admirals have a 50% chance to begin with the Sea Wolf or Blockade Runner traits.
Doctrine:24px trade interdictionTrade Interdiction
integrated air armIntegrated Air Arm
Fleet Protector trait XP: +20%
Air Controller trait XP: +20%
New Admirals have a 50% chance chance to begin with the Aviation Enthusiast trait.
Doctrine:24px base strikeBase Strike

These spirits help you improve your ships before they are deployed to battle. Activating one costs 35 Navy Experience.

Spirit
Effects
Requirements
jeune ÉcoleJeune École
Destroyer Research Speed: +20%
Light Ship Design Cost: -60%
None
flexible contractsFlexible Contracts
Cruiser Design Cost: -60%
Naval Designer Cost: -80%
None
integrated designersIntegrated Designers
Ship Modules Research Speed: +20%
Naval Research Speed: +20%
None
naval reformNaval Reform
Navy Experience: +15%
None
naval refit yardsNaval Refit Yards
Ship Refitting Speed: +25%
Ship Repair Speed: +15%
None
global presenceGlobal Presence
Battleship Research Speed: +20%
Heavy Cruiser Research Speed: +20%
Heavy Ship Design Cost: -60%
Doctrine:24px fleet in beingFleet in Being
submarine primacySubmarine Primacy
Submarine Research Speed: +20%
Submarine Design Cost: -60%
Doctrine:24px trade interdictionTrade Interdiction
mobile forceMobile Force
Carrier Research Speed: +20%
Carrier Design Cost: -60%
Doctrine:24px base strikeBase Strike

This section provides boosts to your navy when they are in battle. It will cost 50 Navy Experience to activate one.

Spirit
Effects
Requirements
close combatClose Combat
Screen Attack: +5%
Torpedo Screen Penetration: +5%
None
night fightingNight Fighting
Night-Time Attack: +10%
Night-Time Spotting: +10%
Visibility: -5%
None
efficient communicationsEfficient Communications
Positioning: +15%
None
inclement weather experienceInclement Weather Experience
Bad Weather Penalty: -40%
None
brave commandersBrave Commanders
Retreat Decision Chance: -5%
Critical Hit Chance: +15%
None
bureau of ordnanceBureau of Ordnance
Torpedo Hit Chance: -10%
Country:24px united statesUnited States
decisive battleDecisive Battle
Naval Hit Chance: +10%
Retreat Decision Chance: -10%
Fleet Speed while Retreating: -10%
Torpedo hit Chance: +10%
Doctrine:24px fleet in beingFleet in Being
surface raidersSurface Raiders
Retreat Decision Chance: +10%
Fleet Speed while Retreating: +10%
Screening Bonus with only capital ships: +20%
Doctrine:24px trade interdictionTrade Interdiction
surprise attacksSurprise Attacks
Retreat chance after initial combat: +10%
Retreat speed after initial combat: +10%
Doctrine:24px base strikeBase Strike

Last but not least, we have the Air Force section of the officer corps. As you might expect, here you can manage your Chief of Air Force, air doctrine, and your air force spirits. Unlike the other sections, however, you only get two spirits to choose from here.

air force command section of the officer corps in hearts of iron 4

This category of spirits is focused on researching and designing new aircraft. They cost 50 Air Experience to enable.

Spirit
Effects
Requirements
independent air forceIndependent Air Force
Air Advisor Cost: -75%
None
industry liasonsIndustry Liaisons
Light, Medium, Heavy, and Naval Aircraft Research Speed: +15%
None
effective training programsEffective Training Programs
Air Wing Training Experience: +25%
None
branch independence spiritBranch Independence Spirit
Air Experience Daily Gain: +0.1
Airforce Intelligence to others: -5%
None
air crew surveysAir Crew Surveys
Air Accidents Chance: -25%
Air Doctrine Cost:-15%
None
industrial destructionIndustrial Destruction
Heavy Aircraft Research Speed: +5%
Strategic Bomber and Jet Strategic Bomber Design Cost: -75%
Doctrine:24px air superiorityStrategic Destruction
dive bombing2Dive Bombing
Close Air Support Research Speed: +5%
Close Air Support Design Cost: -75%
Carrier Close Air Support Design Cost: -75%
Doctrine:24px formation flyingBattlefield Support
material destructionMaterial Destruction
Tactical Bomber Research Speed: +5%
Tactical Bomber and Jet Tactical Bomber Design Cost: -75%
Doctrine:24px force rotationOperational Integrity

These spirits provide general bonuses to your air force. Each one of these also costs 50 Air Experience to activate.

Spirit
Effects
Requirements
battlefield air interdictionBattlefield Air Interdiction
Escort Efficiency: +5%
Ground Attack: +5%
None
veteran air instructorsVeteran Air Instructors
Air Wing Experience loss when defeated: -25%
None
centralized controlCentralized Control
Fighter Detection: +10%
Air Mission Efficiency: +10%
None
home defense2Home Defense
Air home defense: +10%
None
air power projectionAir Power Projection
Air power projection: +10%
None
cag night fightingCAG Night Fighting
Carrier night penalty reduction: +33%
Country:24px united kingdomUnited Kingdom
steel wings, steel heartsSteel Wings, Steel Hearts
Untrained Pilot Penalty: -33%
Ideology:30px communismCommunist
total devastationTotal Devastation
Strategic Bombing: +10%
Doctrine:24px air superiorityStrategic Destruction
continuous strikeContinuous Strike
Air Support Mission Efficiency: +25%
Doctrine:24px formation flyingBattlefield Support
massed strikeMassed Strike
Air Superiority: +5%
Doctrine:24px force rotationOperational Integrity

The officer corps provides a great quality-of-life feature for managing the direction of your military in a single location, and spirits are a powerful tool to add to your arsenal while preparing for war. Optimizing spirits to fit your goals and military composition can give you an important edge in Hearts of Iron IV.

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Lucky Boop
Lucky Boop

Strategy game enthusiast, especially Paradox titles and the Civilization series. Whenever he's not writing he spends his time watching sports, enjoying coffee, or studying history.

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