Figuring Out Military Leadership

Hello everyone, looking forward to some insights here. Post-high school I'm considering the military. Can someone please clarify - who is the leader of all branches of the military?

The highest-ranking military officer across all branches of the U.S. Military is known as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This position is appointed by the President of the United States, and their role involves advising the president on military affairs and strategy. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff doesn't have operational command authority over U.S. military forces, but they play an essential role in managing and coordinating military efforts.

It's worth noting that each individual branch of the military also has its top-ranking officer. For instance, the highest-ranking officer in the Army is the Army Chief of Staff, in the Navy it's the Chief of Naval Operations, in the Air Force it's the Air Force Chief of Staff, in the Marine Corps it's the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and in the Space Force it's the Chief of Space Operations.

These leaders all interface directly with their respective civilian leaders (the Secretaries of their branches, such as the Secretary of the Army or the Secretary of the Navy), who are responsible for administrative matters and implementing policy changes. These civilian leaders, in turn, report to the Secretary of Defense, who is the head of the Department of Defense and directly advises the President on defense-related matters.

Keep in mind that each branch of the military has its own distinct hierarchical structures and systems. If you're considering joining a specific branch, it might be worth researching the leadership structure of that branch more thoroughly.