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what is the chain of command for the military

by Gerhard Streich Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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The chain of command is the line of authority and responsibility along which orders are passed within a military unit and between different units.Apr 6, 2012

Full Answer

What is the current military chain of command?

  • Platoon Sergeant
  • First Sergeant
  • Battalion Command Sergeant Major
  • Brigade Command Sergeant Major
  • Division or Post Command Sergeant Major
  • Army Command Commander
  • Sergeant Major of the Army

Why does the military have a chain of command?

Without a doubt, the chain of command is one of the most durable concepts in military organizations. From Roman times until present, the chain of command fixed formal authorities and accountability from the highest leader to the front line soldier. It made the generation, issuing, and following of orders simple despite the vastness of formations being put to battle.

What is the Order of a military chain of command?

  • Inspector General of the Army
  • Army Auditor General
  • Deputy Under Secretary of the Army
  • Deputy Under Secretary of the Army for Business Transformation
  • Chief, Legislative Liaison
  • Chief, Public Affairs
  • Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization Office
  • General Counsel of the Army
  • Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army

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How does the chain of command work in the military?

  • rank – especially military rank – "who outranks whom" in the power structure
  • unity of command – each member of the hierarchy has one and only one superior, precluding the possibility of contradictory orders
  • strict accountability – those who issue orders are responsible for the consequences, not those who carry them out

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What is the order of the chain of command?

Chain of command in a corporate starts with the top position held by the chief executive officer (CEO). The CEO could, in some cases, also be the owner of the company. The CEO is then followed by the upper management like the vice president, company secretary, human resources manager, etc.

What is the military ranks in order?

They plan missions, give orders and assign Soldiers tasks.Second Lieutenant. Typically the entry-level rank for most commissioned officers. ... First Lieutenant. A seasoned lieutenant with 18 to 24 months of service. ... Captain. ... Major. ... Lieutenant Colonel. ... Colonel. ... Brigadier General. ... Major General.More items...

What is the organizational structure of the military?

Army Organizational Elements The usual Army structure is battalion, brigade, division. Battalions that are organized into regiments are the exception. An example of this exception would be cavalry regiments. Cavalry is unique in that battalions are called "squadrons" and companies are called "troops."

Who is at the top of the military chain of command?

The chain of command leads from the President (as commander-in-chief) through the Secretary of Defense down to the newest recruits.

What are the military ranks from lowest to highest?

Army Ranks - Enlisted and Officer, from Lowest to HighestPay GradeRankAbbreviationW-5Chief Warrant Officer 5CW5O-1Second Lieutenant2LTO-2First Lieutenant1LTO-3CaptainCPT25 more rows

Which is the highest military rank?

five-star generalWhat Is the Highest Military Rank? The highest military rank is O-10, or "five-star general." It is symbolized by five stars for each of the military services. Although it is currently a part of the military service rank system, no officer has been promoted to it since World War II, when the rank was created.

Who is in charge of US military?

General Mark A. Milley is the 20th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nation's highest-ranking military officer, and the principal military advisor to the President, Secretary of Defense, and National Security Council.

Who does the military answer to?

the President of the United StatesThe U.S. military is civilian controlled, and the ultimate authority is the President of the United States, who serves as the Armed Forces' Commander in Chief, in a civilian rather than a military capacity.

Who does the US military report to?

The Department of Defense is headed by the secretary of defense, a cabinet-level head who reports directly to the president of the United States. Beneath the Department of Defense are three subordinate military departments: the Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy, and the Department of the Air Force.

Who commands the entire Navy?

Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) The secretary of the Navy is the chief executive officer of the U.S. Navy. The SECNAV is appointed by the President and requires confirmation from the Senate. The secretary of the Navy must be five years removed from any active duty military service.

Who gives orders to the military?

Overview: Article II Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, the Commander in Chief clause, states that "[t]he President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States."

Who is second in command in the military?

A second-in-command is someone who is next in rank to the leader of a group, and who has authority to give orders when the leader is not there.

What rank is higher than a general?

The ranks associated with each pay grade are as follows: in the Army, Marine Corps, and Air Force, brigadier general (O-7), major general (O-8), lieutenant general (O-9), and general (O-10); in the Navy, rear admiral-lower half, rear admiral-upper half, vice admiral, and admiral."

Is major or captain higher?

major, a military rank standing above captain. It is the lowest field-grade rank. The term was originally used adjectivally in the title sergeant major, the third principal officer in a regiment.

What rank is higher than major?

Army RanksPay GradeTitleAbbreviationO-2First Lieutenant1LTO-3CaptainCPTO-4MajorMAJO-5Lieutenant ColonelLTC25 more rows•Apr 6, 2012

Is Chief higher than captain?

Grades above captain are generally by appointment of the chief or sheriff. In addition, there must be vacancies for a higher rank. In police departments, the second-highest rank is usually similar to a chief of staff.

What is the chain of command in the military?

Everyone in the military has a chain of command. The chain of command is used to issue orders (downward) and to ask for clarification and resolve problems (upward). The military chain of command is such an integral part of military life that you'll be required to memorize your basic training chain of command within the first week or two of arrival.

What is the Army basic training chain of command?

Simply, the Army basic training chain of command is as follows: Drill sergeant (You'll probably have more than one, and they'll be led by the senior drill sergeant. ) Executive officer (In Army basic training, this is usually your senior drill sergeant. ) Commander-in-Chief (president of the United States.)

What is the difference between the Coast Guard and the Navy?

While the Coast Guard (like the Navy) is a seagoing service, the Coast Guard basic training chain of command is somewhat different from the Navy basic training chain of command: Recruit (you) Company commander (CC) Lead company commander (LCC)

What happens if the president paints the barracks purple?

If the president of the United States, as the commander-in-chief, decides that he wants your basic training barracks painted purple, he wouldn't call you directly , even though you're the one who will actually do the work.

Is the Marine Corps under the command of the Navy?

The Marine Corps basic training chain of command is a bit tricky, because there is no Department of the Marine Corps. While technically a separate branch of the military, operationally the Marine Corps falls under the command and control of the Department of the Navy.

Does the Air Force have a chain of command?

As with all military organizations, Air Force basic training also has a designated chain of command:

What is the Army chain of command?

To understand the Army chain of command, you must first know the Department of the Army falls under the Department of Defense of the United States of America. There is both an operational and institutional side to the chain of Command. Furthermore, the operational side covers the numbered armies, divisions, brigades, ...

What is the operational side of the chain of command?

There is both an operational and institutional side to the chain of Command. Furthermore, the operational side covers the numbered armies, divisions, brigades, battalions, and corps. Also, the institutional side of the Army supports the operational side. Related Article – Air Force Chain of Command.

What is SDDC in the military?

SDDC integrates global deployment and distribution for the Army and other branches of the military.

What is ATEC in the Army?

ATEC is a Direct Reporting Unit that handles the testing, operating, evaluations, and experiments of all Army Equipment.

What is the mission of the Army Space and Missile Defense?

The Army Space and Missile Defense’s mission is to develop and provide missile defense for the Army and allies.

How many commands does the Army have?

The chain of command begins with the President of the United States. Beyond the executive offices, the Army has four commands.

What is the highest possible rank in the Army?

Sergeant Major of the Army’s position is the highest possible position for an enlisted member of the Army.

What is the chain of command?

Without a doubt, the chain of command is one of the most durable concepts in military organizations. From Roman times until present, the chain of command fixed formal authorities and accountability from the highest leader to the front line soldier. It made the generation, issuing, and following of orders simple despite the vastness ...

Why do soldiers need orders from powerful commanders?

Soldiers needed orders from powerful commanders capable of convincing soldiers to advance in battle. Other benefits include timeliness of decisions and clearly fixed responsibilities – such as the operating assumption that commanders are responsible for all that happens within their units.

What is the criticism of the linear chain?

A criticism of the linear chain is the degree to which it favors positional power, which combines legitimate (based on vested authorities), coercive (based on fear and sanction), and referent (based on something drawn from the organization, such as one’s rank) power. The reliance on positional power is straightforward.

What are the three classes of the armed forces?

An important cultural artifact of positional power – that of the officer-enlisted divide – deserves renewed scrutiny. Three distinct classes exist in the U.S. armed forces: officer, enlisted, and warrant officer (although the Air Force no longer has warrant officers). The formal chain of command reinforces the distinction by setting qualitatively ...

Why is shared leadership important?

The idea of shared leadership has been around a long time, but its recent increase in popularity may be because of the greater resiliency, flexibility, and responsiveness required in today’s dynamic competitive environments. However, when decisions need to be vetted by the full team of leaders, shared leadership actually adds to the leadership burden. Therefore, shared leadership is more likely to succeed when the organizing construct leverages personal power that combines expert (based on knowledge), information (based on situational awareness and observation), and charismatic (based on capacity to influence) forms of power. Personal power has always been very important for finding workarounds, negotiating solutions to complex problems, and pursuing change. Those who wield it, like Sergeant York and Major Oliver North make big differences.

How many different classes of officers are there in the US military?

Three distinct classes exist in the U.S. armed forces: officer, enlisted, and warrant officer (although the Air Force no longer has warrant officers). The formal chain of command reinforces the distinction by setting qualitatively different entry-level requirements, such as education and conferring greater social status to officers as was done in the British system. This has been criticized as promoting an “ aristocracy ” that has no place in modern militaries, as well as the cultural divide that separates officers from enlisted persists.

Why is the civilian sector moving away from traditional bureaucracies?

But times are changing, and the civilian sector has been moving away from traditional bureaucracies because they can be too rigid in the face of information age challenges.

How are orders passed down the chain of command?

Orders are passed down the chain of command, from higher ranked military personnel to lower ranked military personnel until those orders are received by those who implement the orders. Similarly, requests move up the chain of command until they reach the individual who has the authority to make decisions regarding a particular type of request.

What is the hierarchy of military?

In the military, this hierarchy is called the chain of command. The chain of command is the line of authority and responsibility along which orders are passed within a military unit and between different units. Orders are passed down the chain of command , from higher ranked military personnel to lower ranked military personnel ...

What is the value of the military hierarchy?

An individual's placement in the hierarchy determines his or her level of authority. One of the values of the military is respect for authority and this hierarchical structure. Those higher up in the chain of command have earned that rank and deserve respect.

Is a commissioned officer higher than an enlisted officer?

For example, a commissioned officer is of higher rank than an enlisted member. Within those specific arenas, there is also a rank order. For example, within the Army enlisted ranks, a non-commissioned officer (such as a sergeant) will be of higher rank than a private first class.

Is it bad to challenge authority in the military?

In the military, it is considered bad form to challenge or question authority. Within this hierarchy, military personnel expect those with authority to take charge and make decisions with confidence, and during times of war those decisions can be matters of life or death.

How does a commander sustain an ethical command climate in war?

A Commander sustains an ethical command climate in war by establishing clear intent and purpose for their organization, accentuated through his vision. The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and the Law of War are the military guidelines and penalties for soldiers to act accordingly. Distinctively, the majority of people know the difference between right and wrong. Command team (i.e. Commander and NCOs) are role models for the organization and set the example for their subordinates, which led to sustaining an ethical climate.

What is the importance of discipline in the military?

Based on the task above, the definition of discipline is the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behaviour, using punishment to correct disobedience while the definition of good order is in the right manner. It means how to unite a troop in order to maintain the discipline and good order way. This two elements is very important to make a cooperation among troops.

Why do soldiers need to follow the Army values?

Leaders must apply the Army Values when leading soldiers because of the fact that it builds trust and a bond. The same goes for the soldiers, in order for them both to work as an effective team and to get the mission done efficiently they both must live by these values. Once these values are integrated in a soldier’s lifestyle, it becomes too easy to work as a unit. An example on how loyalty and respect fits in a day to day to situation would be, a soldier witnessing a misunderstanding with his or her team leader and a higher ranking NCO, the soldier knows that his or her team leader is in the right. The soldier shows loyalty by standing by their team leader and shows respect by approaching both their team leader and the higher ranking NCO with tact to explain the situation from their understanding and what they witnessed.

What does the Marine Corps value?

The Marine Corps values rank structure and respect to that rank structure even if you are completely in the right to correct or call out a higher rank on something they did wrong it is demanded of you to use the upmost possible tact and respect. From Private to Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps this applies. One saying I learned that comes to mind, in regard to respecting rank structure, “if you respect the man you respect the rank.” I do my best to live by this in the Marine Corps. I believe that myself and for the most part everyone at every rank can have trouble at times remembering our place in the Corps.

What Should a New Recruit Know About Navy Chain of Command?

A Navy recruit will memorize those at the top of the chain of command.

What are the different combat commands?

Commanders of these commands issue orders to subordinates and subordinate components. Africa Command. Central Command. Cyber Command. European Command.

Why is the Navy free to focus on their missions?

Because the Navy has both operational and administrative sides, those who command fleets and task forces are free to focus on their combat-related missions.

How many component commands are there in the Navy?

Navy Chain of Command: Component Commands. The Navy has nine component commands, and the commanders handle the operations for each. From an organizational standpoint, commanders for the component command report to their assigned combatant commander.

How many Fleet Commanders in Chief are there?

There are two Fleet Commanders-in-Chief who look after subordinate commanders.

What is a Navy task group?

A Navy task group is typically a carrier strike group or an amphibious ready group within one of the fleets.

What is the highest rank in the Navy?

The Secretary of the Navy is the highest rank in the US Navy’s chain of command. As the chief executive officer, he or she reports directly to the President of the U.S. and the Secretary of Defense. Among other responsibilities, the Secretary of the Navy looks after the construction and repair of US Navy ships.

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4.IS THE “CHAIN OF COMMAND” STILL MEANINGFUL?

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7.Navy Chain of Command - Operation Military Kids

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5 hours ago WebIn a military context, the chain of command is the line of authority and responsibility along which orders are passed within a military unit and between different units. In simpler …

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