Structure of the United States Armed Forces


The chain of command leads from the President through the Secretary of Defense down to the newest recruits. The United States armed forces are organized through the United States Department of Defense, which oversees a complex structure of joint command and control functions with many units reporting to various commanding officers. The following is an incomplete list of the various major military units, commands, and DOD offices and agencies, including civilian and military chains of command.

Department of Defense

Joint Staff

Department of the Army

U.S. Africa Command

Commander, USTRANSCOM: General Darren W. McDew, USAF
Order of battle