Joint Chiefs of Staff

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Seal of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Active	1942–present
Disbanded
Country	United States
Allegiance
Branch	United States Armed Forces
Type
Role
Size
Part of	United States Department of Defense
Headquarters	The Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) is a body of senior uniformed leaders in the United States Department of Defense who advise the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense, the Homeland Security Council, and the National Security Council on military matters. The composition of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is defined by statute and consists of a Chairman, a Vice Chairman, and the Service Chiefs from the United States Army, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, United States Air Force, United States Space Force, and the Chief of the National Guard Bureau.

History

The Joint Chiefs of Staff was established during World War II to ensure the coordination and cooperation of the United States Armed Forces. The body was formalized by the National Security Act of 1947, which also created the United States Air Force and the National Security Council.

Structure

The Joint Chiefs of Staff is composed of the following members:

• Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
• Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
• Chief of Staff of the United States Army
• Chief of Naval Operations
• Commandant of the Marine Corps
• Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force
• Chief of Space Operations
• Chief of the National Guard Bureau

Responsibilities

The primary responsibility of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is to provide military advice to the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Council. They do not have operational command authority over the armed forces; instead, their role is advisory. The operational command is exercised by the Unified Combatant Commands.

Related Pages

• United States Department of Defense
• Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
• Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
• United States Army
• United States Navy
• United States Marine Corps
• United States Air Force
• United States Space Force
• National Guard Bureau
• National Security Council
• Homeland Security Council
• Unified Combatant Commands

See Also

• National Security Act of 1947
• The Pentagon
• United States Armed Forces

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