The Roles and Responsibilities of Various Military Members

Reports from the United States Central Intelligence Agency indicate the country has the third largest active military in the world. As of September 2023, the U.S. military consisted of just under three million people, more than two million of whom are military personnel (just under 800,000 are civilian employees).

The U.S. military is made up of seven branches: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, and the National Guard. No two branches of the military perform the same functions, and there are various leadership positions within the branches. The following rundown of various military positions can help Americans gain a greater understanding of the individuals who work to keep the country safe each day.

The following run down of various military positions can help Americans gain a greater understanding of the individuals who work to keep the country safe each day.

• Secretary of Defense: The Secretary of Defense is a unique position in America, as laws designed to ensure civilian control of the military mandate that the Secretary of Defense cannot have served as an active-duty commissioned officer in the military in the preceding seven years (ten years in the case of a general). The Secretary of Defense is the head of the Department of the Defense and the secretary’s authority over the military is second only to the president’s.

• Chief of Naval Operations (CNO): The CNO is the highest-ranking officer in the United States Navy. The CNO an admiral and is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, which is the body of the most senior uniformed officers within the Department of Defense. Though the CNO is a significant position, the person in the role does not have operational command over naval forces.

• Four-star General: General is a title familiar to civilians and armed forces personnel alike. A Four-star General in the U.S. Army is a senior level commissioned officer who typically has more than 30 years of experience and service. General is the highest rank normally available in the U.S. Army, though a General of the Army may be named in time of war where the commanding officer must be equal or of higher rank than individuals commanding armies from other nations.
• General (Air Force): General also is the highest rank in the United States Air Force. According to Executivegov.com, four-star generals in the Air Force take charge of command positions in NATO, Numbered Air Forces, and the Chief of Staff.
• Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC): The CMC is the highest-ranking Marine Officer and is also a four-star general. The CMC is on the Joint Chiefs of Staff and reports directly to the Secretary of the Navy. The CMC transmits the plans and recommendations of the Marine Corps to the Secretary and advises on those plans.
• Secretary of Defense: The Secretary of Defense is a unique position in America, as laws designed to ensure civilian control of the military mandate that the Secretary of Defense cannot have served as an active-duty commissioned officer in the military in the preceding seven years (ten years in the case of a general). The Secretary of Defense is the head of the Department of the Defense and the secretary’s authority over the military is second only to the president’s.
• Chief of Naval Operations (CNO): The CNO is the highest-ranking officer in the United States Navy. The CNO an admiral and is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, which is the body of the most senior uniformed officers within the Department of Defense. Though the CNO is a significant position, the person in the role does not have operational command over naval forces.
• Four-star General: General is a title familiar to civilians and armed forces personnel alike. A Four-star General in the U.S. Army is a senior level commissioned officer who typically has more than 30 years of experience and service. General is the highest rank normally available in the U.S. Army, though a General of the Army may be named in time of war where the commanding officer must be equal or of higher rank than individuals commanding armies from other nations.
• General (Air Force): General also is the highest rank in the United States Air Force. According to Executivegov.com, four-star generals in the Air Force take charge of command positions in NATO, Numbered Air Forces, and the Chief of Staff.
• Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC): The CMC is the highest-ranking Marine Officer and is also a four-star general. The CMC is on the Joint Chiefs of Staff and reports directly to the Secretary of the Navy. The CMC transmits the plans and recommendations of the Marine Corps to the Secretary and advises on those plans.

These are just a handful of the influential positions established to ensure the U.S. military can effectively fulfill its mission to keep the country safe each and every day.