What is the relationship between the Secretary of Defense and the military departments?

What is the relationship between the Secretary of Defense and the military departments?

• A. The Secretary provides policy guidance to the Secretaries of the military departments
• B. The Joint Chiefs of Staff direct the military departments
• C. The President oversees the military departments directly
• D. The DoD budget office controls the departments

Answer: (A)

The relationship hinges on civilian leadership and policy direction within the Department of Defense. The Secretary of Defense sits at the top as the civilian head and provides policy guidance to the Secretaries of the military departments. Those Secretaries are responsible for the organization, training, and equipping of their services and for carrying out the SecDef’s policies within their departments. The Joint Chiefs of Staff do not command the departments; they serve as senior military advisers to the Secretary of Defense and the President. The President is the Commander in Chief and provides overall direction, while day-to-day control and budgeting flow through the DoD under civilian leadership rather than through the Joint Chiefs.

The relationship hinges on civilian leadership and policy direction within the Department of Defense. The Secretary of Defense sits at the top as the civilian head and provides policy guidance to the Secretaries of the military departments. Those Secretaries are responsible for the organization, training, and equipping of their services and for carrying out the SecDef’s policies within their departments. The Joint Chiefs of Staff do not command the departments; they serve as senior military advisers to the Secretary of Defense and the President. The President is the Commander in Chief and provides overall direction, while day-to-day control and budgeting flow through the DoD under civilian leadership rather than through the Joint Chiefs.