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1 1 (March 5, 2020)

handle is hein.crs/govcamw0001 and id is 1 raw text is: 01;0i E.$~ & gogn, q \pop\\m -,\\mw-m ggmm g , q aS ' X 11LULANJILiN, Updated March 5, 2020 Defense Primer: The Military Departments There are three military departments within the Department of Defense (DOD): Department of the Army, Department of the Navy, and Department of the Air Force. The authority, function, and organization of each military department is established in Title 10 of the United States Code. Since 1947, the military departments have fallen under the Secretary of Defense's authority, direction, and control. According to the Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986 (P.L. 99-433), the military departments are limited to primary responsibility for personnel, training, services, supply, and procurement. Under this act, the authority to conduct military operations exclusively resides in the unified combatant commands, which directly report to the Secretary of Defense and the President. The authority to establish military departments constitutionally resides with the Congress, not the Commander in Chief. A military department provides and embodies traditional civilian control of the military. A military department consists of an executive headquarters and various agencies, installations, or field headquarters. Within the executive headquarters, the number of people authorized to serve in the Office of the Secretary is specified in law and varies among the military departments. Table 1 includes the total number of civilian personnel and military officers authorized and the number of military officers authorized within the total for each military department. All civilians and servicemembers under the control or supervision of a service secretary make up the personnel within a military department. Table I. Office of the Secretary Personnel Limitations Number Authorized for Permanent Duty ARMY NAVY AIR FORCE Total Officer Total Officer Total Officer 3,105 1,865 2,866 1,720 2,639 1,585 Source: 10 U.S.C. §§7014, 8014, 9014 (February 2020). Note: Personnel limitations are not applied in time of war. Each military department is led by a secretary whom the President appoints from civilian life with the advice and consent of the Senate. Each secretary directly reports to the Secretary of Defense, who directly reports to the President. Among other things, the secretary is responsible for organizing, equipping, and training the armed service or services in the military department. The Office of the Secretary typically includes an under secretary and various assistant secretaries. Principal officials who directly report to the secretary include the military department's general counsel, inspector general, and chief of legislative liaison. After first informing the Secretary of Defense, a secretary may make recommendations to Congress relating to DOD. Other discretionary functions include the authority to assign, detail, and prescribe the duties of civilians and servicemembers. The secretary also issues regulations that implement his or her duties, powers, and functions. Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), the secretary is the most senior final disposition official and general court martial convening authority within the military department. Ak--,ed Sevvke There are one or more armed services in each military department under the authority, direction, and control of a secretary. The armed services are the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Space Force. Each armed service is led by a service chief and supported by a service staff. The Coast Guard is an armed service that operates in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under the leadership of the Commandant of the Coast Guard and DHS Secretary, unless placed under the authority, direction, and control of the Department of the Navy. Anosm'd 5,\\v\\\\ c The President appoints a service chief from the flag or general officers of a service for four years with the advice and consent of the Senate. The service chief is responsible to the secretary and Congress. Among other duties and responsibilities, the service chief exercises supervision over the civilians, servicemembers, and organizations of the armed service. The service chiefs are designated * Chief of Staff of the Army * Commandant of the Marine Corps * Chief of Naval Operations * Chief of Staff of the Air Force * Chief of Space Operations These service chiefs serve as members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) and are directly responsible to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), Secretary of Defense, and President regarding operational matters. Unless it conflicts with a service chief's position on the JCS, the service chief may disclose operational matters that affect the military department to the secretary. The service staff assists the service chief in carrying out his or her responsibilities. Except as required by law, a K~:>

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