Joint Chiefs of Staff The Joint Chiefs of Staff is a group
comprised of the military heads of each of the four branches of
the United States Armed Forces, and charged with providing
leadership and coordinated military action in time of war.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs The Goldwater-Nichols DOD
Reorganization Act of 1986 identifies the Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff as the senior ranking member of the Armed
Forces. As such, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is
the principal military adviser to the President. He may seek the
advice of and consult with the other JCS members and combatant
commanders. When he presents his advice, he presents the range
of advice and opinions he has received, along with any
individual comments of the other JCS members. Under the DOD
Reorganization Act, the Secretaries of the Military Departments
assign all forces to combatant commands except those assigned to
carry out the mission of the Services, i.e., recruit, organize,
supply, equip, train, service, mobilize, demo