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JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF (JCS)
Before we describe the functions of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff (JCS), let’s review a little history.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff resulted from the
establishment of a supreme British-American
military body for the strategic direction of World
War II. This British-American body of military
officers was known as the Combined Chiefs of
Staff.
Our own JCS took form from the British
Chiefs of Staff, who were colleagues and counter-
parts of U.S. representatives. The JCS soon began
to function as the corporate leadership for the
United States military structure. At the national
level, the JCS absorbed and extended the
functions of the Joint Army and Navy Board.
This joint board handled interservice cooperation
and joint war planning in the prewar period.
During World War II the JCS existed to assist
the President in the exercise of his powers as
Commander in Chief. The organization that
developed to support the JCS during World War
II included a few standing committees composed
of full-time working members. However, the
majority of committees were manned by officers
who served in this JCS function as part-time
members. This function was an extension of
their primary assignments in the War or Navy
Departments.
With few modifications, the wartime JCS
organization continued to operate in the postwar
period until the effective date of the National
Security Act of 1947. This act established the JCS
as a permanent agency within the National
Military Establishment. It appointed the members
as "the principal military advisers to the President
and Secretary of Defense."
COMPOSITION
The JCS consists of the Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff; the Chief of Staff, United States
Army; the Chief of Naval Operations; the Chief
of Staff, United States Air Force; and the
Commandant of the Marine Corps.
The President appoints the Chairman, with the
advice and consent of the Senate. The Chairman
serves at the pleasure of the President for a 2-year
term and may be reappointed in the same
manner for an additional 2-year term. During
time of war, the number of reappointments is
unlimited. While holding office, the Chairman of
the JCS outranks all other officers of the armed
forces. However, the Chairman may not exercise
military command over the JCS or any of the
armed forces.
One additional member, the Vice Chairman,
is appointed in the same manner as the Chairman.
The Vice Chairman participates in all meetings
of the JCS but may vote only when acting as
Chairman.
FUNCTION
The members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are
the principal military advisers to the President,
the National Security Council, and the Secretary
of Defense. Subject to the authority and
direction of the President and SECDEF, the duties
Preparing strategic plans and providing
strategic direction of the armed forces
Preparing joint logistic plans and assigning
logistic responsibilities to the armed forces
Establishing unified commands
Reviewing major material and personnel
requirements of the armed forces
Formulating policies for joint training of
the armed forces
Formulating policies for coordinating
military education of members of the
armed forces
Providing representation of the United
States on the Military Staff Committee of
the United Nations
Performing other duties as the President
or SECDEF prescribes
UNIFIED COMMANDS AND
SPECIFIED COMMANDS
The United States’ concept of the Military
Establishment is that it is an efficient team of
land, naval, and air forces. This concept is based
on the principle of effective use of military power.
This principle requires close integration of the
efforts of the separate military services. Unity of
effort among the services at the national level
results from a joint effort. The Secretaries of the
Army, Navy, and Air Force; the JCS; and the
11-6
of the JCS include the following:
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