Which statement accurately describes the Secretary of Defense's relationship to the military departments?

Which statement accurately describes the Secretary of Defense's relationship to the military departments?

• A. The Secretary provides policy guidance to the Secretaries of the military departments
• B. The Secretaries report directly to Congress
• C. The Joint Staff directly commands the departments
• D. The DoD budget office runs the departments

Answer: (A)

In the Department of Defense, the Secretary of Defense oversees and guides the entire DoD, setting policy and direction for the military services through their Secretaries. The Army, Navy, and Air Force are organized as military departments that carry out the policies and programs approved at the DoD level, with each department led by a Secretary who administers that service within the framework set by the Secretary of Defense. The Joint Staff serves to provide military advice and assessment, not to command the departments. The DoD budget office develops budgetary plans under DoD oversight, but it does not run or command the individual departments. So the statement that best describes the relationship is that the Secretary provides policy guidance to the Secretaries of the military departments.

In the Department of Defense, the Secretary of Defense oversees and guides the entire DoD, setting policy and direction for the military services through their Secretaries. The Army, Navy, and Air Force are organized as military departments that carry out the policies and programs approved at the DoD level, with each department led by a Secretary who administers that service within the framework set by the Secretary of Defense. The Joint Staff serves to provide military advice and assessment, not to command the departments. The DoD budget office develops budgetary plans under DoD oversight, but it does not run or command the individual departments. So the statement that best describes the relationship is that the Secretary provides policy guidance to the Secretaries of the military departments.