Seeking Clarity on Military Leadership

Hi folks, thinking about enlisting once I'm out of high school, but I still need some things cleared up. Who exactly is in charge of the military branches?

Each branch of the United States military is headed by a Secretary (with the exception of the Navy, which is overseen by the Secretary of the Navy). These officials serve under the Secretary of Defense, who is part of the President's cabinet, and they carry out the President's policies related to their respective branches. The President serves as the commander-in-chief, and as such has the ultimate authority over the military.

To provide a little more context, the five primary branches of the U.S. military are the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. In 2019, the Space Force was established as a separate branch.

Every branch of the military has its own chain of command, by which orders are passed down from the highest-ranking officers to lower-ranking personnel. At the top of this chain of command in each branch is a military officer who serves as the Chief of Staff (for the Army and Air Force), Commandant (for the Marine Corps), Chief of Naval Operations (for the Navy), Commandant (for the Coast Guard), and Chief of Space Operations (for the Space Force).

These military leaders are responsible for handling the daily operations of their respective branches and reporting to their branches' civilian heads (the Secretaries) as well as to the Secretary of Defense.

It's also crucial to remember the relevance of Congress in this structure. While the President is the commander-in-chief, Congress has the power to declare war and provides funding for the military, which are important checks in the control and direction of the military.

Remember that whatever branch you join, you'll be part of a massive and complex organization that is overseen by a variety of authorities, and you'll be playing your own role within that.