Hey all, I've been looking into joining the military after I graduate. However, I'm a tad unsure about the hierarchy. Can anyone enlighten me on who heads each branch of military?
Certainly, let me provide some information on that. Each branch of the United States military has a top-ranking officer, often referred to as the "service chief", as well as a civilian leader.
1. Army: The top-ranking military officer is the Chief of Staff of the Army, and the civilian leader is the Secretary of the Army.
2. Navy: The chief military officer is the Chief of Naval Operations, while the civilian leader is the Secretary of the Navy.
3. Air Force: The Air Force is led by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force on the military side, and by the Secretary of the Air Force on the civilian side.
4. Marine Corps: The Commandant of the Marine Corps is the top-ranking military officer, while the Secretary of the Navy also serves as the civilian leader for the Marine Corps, as this branch falls under the Department of the Navy.
5. Coast Guard: The Commandant of the Coast Guard is the highest-ranking member on the military side. The Coast Guard is unique among military branches in that it operates under the Department of Homeland Security in peacetime. The civilian leader of the Coast Guard is the Secretary of Homeland Security.
6. Space Force: Space Force is the newest branch of the military. It operates under the Department of the Air Force, and its highest-ranking military officer is the Chief of Space Operations. The civilian leader is the Secretary of the Air Force.
Above these positions is the Secretary of Defense, who oversees the entire Department of Defense, which includes the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Space Force. The Coast Guard falls under the Department of Homeland Security, as I mentioned earlier, except during a war or during explicit Presidential direction.
You might also come across the term "Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff". This is the highest-ranking military officer in the country, who serves as the principal military advisor to the President, Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Council.
I hope that clears up your question. Let me know if you have any more queries on this topic!
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