Understanding the Hierarchy of the US Military

Hey guys, I'm considering enlisting after high school. Though, I'm not gonna lie, I'm kinda confused about who's actually in charge of the whole thing. Like, who commands all the branches in the military?

Sure thing! In the United States, the President holds the position of the Commander-in-Chief and is overall in charge of the military. Under the President is the Secretary of Defense, a civilian appointed by the President who oversees the Department of Defense, which includes all branches of the military: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard, and as of recently, the Space Force. Each branch of the military has its own Secretary (e.g., Secretary of the Army, Secretary of the Navy) who reports directly to the Secretary of Defense.

Each military branch also has a high-ranking military officer who serves as the Chief of Staff (for the Army and Air Force), Commandant (for the Marine Corps), or simply as the Chief (for the Navy and Coast Guard). The Chief of Staff/Commandant/Chief is responsible for the readiness of their respective branch and reports to their respective Secretary.

In addition to these individuals, there's the Joint Chiefs of Staff, which consists of the Chair and Vice Chair (both appointed by the President), and the highest-ranking officer from each branch. They directly advise the President, Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Council on military matters.

So, in a more general sense, here's the hierarchy from top to bottom: President, Secretary of Defense, civilian Secretaries of each military branch (Secretary of the Army, Secretary of the Navy, etc.) and Chief/Commandant/Chiefs of Staff of each branch. And remember, alongside this, the Joint Chiefs of Staff provide advice directly to the President and other high-level officials.