3. Organization Flashcards
Who makes national military policy decisions?
Civilians assigned to the military and executive and legislative branches of government.
What establishes the basic principle of civilian control of the armed forces?
The US Constitution.
As Commander in Chief (CINC), the President has the final command authority. How is this authority limited?
As head of the executive branch, he or she is subject to the “checks and balances” of the legislative and judicial branches.
What did the National Security Act of 1947 establish?
The DoD.
What is the DoD’s function?
To maintain and employ the armed forces.
What departments form the DoD?
The 1) Office of The Secretary of Defense (OSD); 2) Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS); 3) Joint Staff (JS); 4) Departments of the Army, Navy (including the US Marine Corps) and Air Force; and 5) unified Combatant Commands (COCOM) and forces dedicated to combined commands, defense agencies and DoD field activities.
Who is the head of the DoD?
The SecDef.
To whom does the SecDef provide written policy guidance?
The DoD component chief; Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS); secretaries of the military departments and commanders of the combatant commands.
Who formulates general defense policy (and policy related to all matters of direct and primary concern to the DoD) and executes approved policy as the principal defense policy advisor to the President?
The SecDef. (Appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate.)
The operational chain of command runs from the President to the SecDef to the _____ _____.
Combatant Commanders (CCDR).
In what areas does the Armed Forces Policy Council assist the SecDef?
Matters requiring a long-range view and formulating broad defense policy.
Name the five Under Secretaries of Defense.
1) Policy; 2) Comptroller; 3) Personnel and Readiness; 4) Acquisition, Technology and Logistics; and 5) Intelligence.
Name three special agencies that provide staff assistance to the SecDef.
1) Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA); 2) Security Service; and 3) Defense Logistics Agency (DLA).
Who is the principal military advisor to the President, National Security Council (NSC) and the SecDef?
The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS). (He or she may also be assigned oversight of the combatant commands.)
How is the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) selected?
The President appoints the CJCS from the officers of the regular components of the armed forces (by and with the advice and consent of the Senate).
The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) holds the grade of general (or admiral) and outranks all other officers of the armed forces while serving. T/F
True.
Does the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) exercise military command over either the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) or any of the armed forces?
No.
What allows the President to authorize communications through the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS)?
A provision of the Goldwater-Nichols DoD Reorganization Act of 1986.
Who do the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) advise?
The President, SecDef and National Security Council (NSC).
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) provide strategic direction for the armed forces, review major materiel and personnel requirements and establish joint doctrine. What are their other responsibilities?
Assigning logistic responsibilities to the military services, formulating joint training policies and coordinating military education.
Who are the members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS)?
The 1) Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS); 2) Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (VCJCS); 3) Chief of Staff, US Army (CSA); 4) Chief of Naval Operations (CNO); 5) Chief of Staff, US Air Force (CSAF); and 6) Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC).
Who serves as a member of, as well as presides over, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS)?
The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS). (He or she also furnishes the recommendations and views of the JCS to the President, National Security Council (NSC) or the SecDef.)
Why do the service chiefs delegate many of their Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) duties to their vice chiefs of staff while retaining overall responsibility?
Because their JCS duties take precedence over all other duties.
Who assists members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) with strategic direction, unified operation of combatant commands and integration of all land, naval and air forces?
The Joint Staff (JS) (over 1,500 military and civilian personnel composed of approximately even numbers of officers drawn from the Army, Navy and Air Force).
Direction of the Joint Staff (JS) rests exclusively with _____.
The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS).
Who establishes unified combatant commands?
The President, assisted by the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) through the SecDef.
Who deploys, directs, controls and coordinates the action of the unified combatant command’s forces; conducts joint training exercises; and controls certain support functions?
The Combatant Commanders (CCDR). (Responsible to both the SecDef and President.)
A unified Combatant Command (COCOM) has a broad, continuing mission with forces drawn from two or more military departments. How are they organized?
On a geographical and functional basis.
Name the eight unified commands.
1) US European Command (USEUCOM); 2) US Pacific Command (USPACOM); 3) US Northern Command (USNORTHCOM); 4) US Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM); 5) US Central Command (USCENTCOM); 6) US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM); 7) US Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM); and 8) US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM).
Once a force is assigned to a unified command, who has the authority to transfer it?
The SecDef. (Or under special procedures of this office with the President’s approval.)
What type of command consists of forces from more than one allied nation?
Combined commands.
Under what terms does a combined command normally operate?
Terms of a treaty, alliance or bilateral agreement between or among the nations concerned.
Give three examples of multinational commands.
1) The North American Aerospace Defense Command; 2) Combined Forces Command Korea; and 3) Allied Command Operations.
What are the three military departments?
The Air Force, Army and Navy. (The Navy includes the Marine Corps and, in wartime, the Coast Guard.)
To whom do the service secretaries provide efficiently organized, trained and equipped ready forces?
Combatant Commanders (CCDR).
Who helps the SecDef manage the administrative, training and logistic functions of the military departments?
The service secretaries.
The traditional roles and mission of each branch of service are called _____.
Functions.
What agreement between the SecDef and Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) established the functions for each branch of the armed forces?
The Key West Agreement of 1948. (Revised in 1953 and 1958.)
Identify the three general functions of the armed forces.
1) Support and defend the US Constitution; 2) ensure the security of the US, its possessions and areas vital to its interests; and 3) uphold and advance US national policies and interests.
Name several specific functions the military departments share.
1) Preparing forces and establishing reserves of personnel, equipment and supplies; 2) planning for expansion of peacetime components to meet wartime needs; 3) maintaining mobile reserve forces; 4) preparing and submitting budgets to the SecDef; 5) administering funds; and 6) helping each other accomplish their respective functions.
The Department of the Air Force consists of what divisions?
Headquarters Air Force (HAF) and its field units.
The Air Force prepares the air and space forces necessary for what actions?
1) Effective prosecution of war; 2) military operations short of war; and 3) expanding peacetime components to meet the needs of war.
The Air Force organizes, trains, equips and provides forces for what six primary functions?
1) Air and space combat operations; 2) strategic air and missile warfare; 3) joint amphibious, space and airborne operations; 4) close air support and air logistic support for the Army and other forces; 5) operating air and space lines of communications; and 6) supporting and conducting psychological operations.
The Air Force also has a primary function to provide equipment, forces, procedures, and doctrine necessary for effective _____ warfare operations.
Electronic.
How is the SECAF selected?
A civilian is appointed by the President (by and with the advice and consent of the Senate).
As head of the Department of the Air Force, the SECAF recruits, organizes, supplies, equips, trains, services, mobilizes, demobilizes and administers personnel. Name several more responsibilities.
He or she also 1) maintains, constructs, outfits, and repairs military equipment; 2) constructs, maintains and repairs buildings, structures and utilities; and 3) acquires real property and interests in real property.
Who has authority, control and direction over the SECAF?
The SecDef.
How is the Chief of Staff, US Air Force (CSAF) selected?
The President appoints the CSAF from the general officers of the Air Force (by and with the advice and consent of the Senate).
The Chief of Staff, US Air Force (CSAF) serves for a(n) _____-year period.
Four-year.
Who exercises authority, direction and control over the Chief of Staff, US Air Force (CSAF)?
The SECAF and SecDef.
Name at least two of the Chief of Staff’s, US Air Force (CSAF) responsibilities.
Any two of the following: the CSAF 1) presides over the Air Staff; 2) carries out recommendations or plans approved by the SECAF; 3) exercises supervision of the Air Force, as determined by the SECAF; and 4) as a Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) member, informs the SECAF on matters affecting the Department of the Air Force.
The ANG is a MAJCOM. T/F
False. (It is a very important component of the total force in offensive, defensive and relief operations.)
Who administers the ANG?
The National Guard Bureau (a joint bureau of the departments of the Army and Air Force) located in the Pentagon, Washington, DC.
What is the ANG’s federal mission?
To maintain well-trained and well-equipped units for prompt mobilization during war and to assist during national emergencies.
What is the ANG’s federal mission during peacetime?
Its combat-ready and support units are assigned to most Air Force MAJCOMs to carry out missions compatible with training, mobilization readiness, and humanitarian and contingency operations (such as Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan).
What is the ANG’s state mission (when not mobilized or under federal control)?
The protection of life and property and the preservation of peace, order and public safety.
Who do ANG units report to when not mobilized or under federal control?
The governor of their respective state, territory or the commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard.
How does the ANG accomplish its state mission to protect life and property and preserve peace, order and public safety?
Through 1) emergency relief support during natural disasters; 2) search and rescue operations; 3) supporting civil defense authorities; 4) maintaining vital public services; and 5) counterdrug operations.
The ANG has more than _____ officers and enlisted personnel who serve in 88 flying units and 579 independent support units.
106,000.
Who are the primary sources of full-time support for ANG units?
Dual-status military technicians and guardsmen on active duty. (They perform day-to-day management, administration and maintenance.)
Dual-status military technicians are civil service employees of the federal government who must be military members of the unit that employs them. T/F
True. (Technicians train with the unit and mobilize with it when activated.)
What is the Air Staff’s function?
To help the SECAF carry out his or her responsibilities.
Name at least five of the Air Staff military advisors to the SECAF.
Any five of the following: 1) Chief of Staff; 2) Vice Chief of Staff; 3) Deputy Chiefs of Staff; 4) Assistant Chiefs of Staff; 5) Surgeon General of the Air Force; 6) Judge Advocate General of the Air Force; 7) Chief of the Air Force Reserve; 8) other members of the Air Force assigned or detailed to the Air Staff; and 9) civilian employees in the Department of the Air Force assigned or detailed to the Air Staff.
Headquarters, US Air Force (HQ USAF) includes what two major entities?
1) Secretariat (the SECAF and his or her principal staff); and 2) Air Staff, headed by the Chief of Staff.
List the Department of the Air Force field units.
MAJCOMs, Field Operating Agencies (FOA) and Direct Reporting Units (DRU).
The Air Force is organized _____ in the US and _____ overseas.
Functionally; Geographically.
_____ are major Air Force subdivisions, directly subordinate to Headquarters, US Air Force (HQ USAF).
MAJCOMs. (They are interrelated and complementary, providing offensive, defensive and support elements. Each has a specific portion of the Air Force mission.)
What kind of command consists (in whole or in part) of strategic, tactical, space or defense forces, or of flying forces that directly support such forces?
Operational commands.
What type of command may provide supplies, weapon systems, support systems, operational support equipment, combat materiel, maintenance, surface transportation, education and training, or special services and other supported organizations?
Support commands.
Identify the ten Air Force MAJCOMs.
1) Air Combat Command (ACC); 2) Air Mobility Command (AMC); 3) Air Force Space Command (AFSPC); 4) Pacific Air Forces (PACAF); 5) US Air Forces in Europe (USAFE); 6) Air Education and Training Command (AETC); 7) Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC); 8) Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC); 9) Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC); and 10) AFR Command (AFRC).
Which MAJCOM was created 1 June 1992 and is headquartered at Langley AFB, VA.
Air Combat Command (ACC).