“The mission of the Department of Defense is to
provide the military forces needed to deter war and
to protect the security of our country.”
The Department of Defense is an executive branch department of the United States that is responsible for the agencies and national security. The headquarters for this branch is the Pentagon in Washington D.C. This establishment replaced the War Department which put civilians in charge instead of the military. The overall mission of the Department of the Defense is:
- Support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
- Protect the United States, its possessions, and areas vital to its interests.
- Advance the policies and interests of the United States.
- Safeguard the internal security of the United States
The 1949 Amendment to the National Security act established the “Department of Defense” as an executive department of the government which allowed the Army, Navy, Air Force to have their own secretary under the Secretary of Defense: The Honorable James Mattis. Each of the branch’s organization is determined by their respective secretary. Unified and specified commands were also established.
Our respective Secretary of Defense is currently James Mattis, General, USMC, Retired. This position is ran by a civilian although this year we have a retired Marine. The main job of the U.S. secretary of defense is to plan, develop and execute policies that concern the military affairs and national security of the country. Also, such an official is responsible for the department’s resource management and fiscal and program evaluation. The secretary’s staff assists in carrying out assigned tasks in accordance with their job titles. The SECDEF is appointed by President, member of President’s Cabinet. His principals rely on the country’s defense policy and he remains an advisor to the President. He is also responsible for general defense policy and all matters related to the Department of Defense.
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Unified commands are broad and focus on the continuity of the mission. These are typically geographically organized which allow for joint operations between armed services. As you may already know, each service is responsible for specific combat functions (i.e Navy: Sea – Air force: Air – Marine Corps: Land). Since 2011, we have yet to use a specified command but these are organized on a functional basis. These are normally dominated by one service with experts of other services.
BRANCH MISSIONS:
- U.S. Army: The U.S. Army’s mission is to fight and win our Nation’s wars by providing prompt, sustained land dominance across the full range of military operations and spectrum of conflict in support of combatant commanders.
- U.S. Air Force: The mission of the United States Air Force is to fly, fight and win in air, space and cyberspace. Functionally, they: Neutralize or destroy an enemy’s war-sustaining capabilities or the enemy’s “will to fight” by striking key military, political, and economic centers of gravity. Simultaneously, they prevent our enemies from achieving the same.
- U.S. Navy: The mission of the Navy is to maintain, train and equip combat-ready Naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas.
- U.S. Marine Corps: As America’s expeditionary force in readiness since 1775, the Marines are forward deployed to win our nation’s battles swiftly and aggressively in times of crisis. We fight on land, sea and air, as well as provide forces and detachments to naval ships and ground operations.
- U.S. Coast Guard: The mission of the United States Coast Guard is to ensure our Nation’s maritime safety, security and stewardship.