Responsibilities of the Joint Chiefs of

Staff By Pamela Berkowsky

A former senior official at the Department of Defense, Pamela Berkowsky served as an aide to the undersecretary of the Navy and the secretary of defense. Pamela Berkowsky also served with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the State Department.

Introduction

Created in 1942 and codified by statute in the National Security Act of 1947, the Joint Chiefs of Staff currently consist of the most senior officers of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and National Guard, one of whom additionally serves as chairman and another as vice chairman.

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff serves as the president’s main military advisor. Although he does not have direct command of troops in the field, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff plays a key role in driving future joint planning and readiness efforts. By virtue of his position, the chairman also holds seniority over all other military officers in the United States Armed Forces.

About the Joint Chiefs of Staff

The Joint Staff supports the chairman in carrying out his or her duties. The Joint Staff, like the chairman, does not exercise operational control over military forces, but seeks to ensure strategic coherence and command integration.

Conclusion