SUMMARY

particular threat. While the primary responsibility for winning wars lies with the Army, Navy, and Air Force, the Marine Corps wins battles, ever ready to respond to international “brush fires.” Marines train to be first on the scene to respond to attacks on the United States or its interests, acts of political violence against Americans abroad, disaster relief, humanitarian assistance, or evacuation of Americans from foreign countries. Operating from Navy ships afloat, the Navy-Marine team provides a unique range of options for the country’s leadership. At sea, these units can operate from a protected sea base, unencumbered by political constraints often encountered by U.S. forces based in foreign countries. SUMMARY Organization is not a new concept. In its simplest form, organization is the orderly arrangement of assets. As a person approaching middle management, you must understand the organization of our Navy. Our Constitution authorized the building and supporting of our military forces. The Constitution also stated that the President of the United States would be the Commander in Chief of the military forces. In this chapter you have read how presidential actions to protect our national security affirm the power of the Commander in Chief. In 1949 an amendment to the National Security Act (NSA) set up the Department of Defense as we know it today. The NSA set up the position of Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) and gave the position presidential cabinet rank. The NSA also set up the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The JCS consists of the top individuals from each service who advise the SECDEF and the President on all military matters. The naval representative to the JCS is the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). The CNO is a member of the Department of the Navy (DoN), and so are you. Our military organization starting with the President, includes the Army, Navy, Air Force, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and unified combatant commands. The DoN is composed of three major parts—the Navy Department, the shore establishment, and the operating forces—in addition to other supporting offices and agencies. This chapter presented these major activities and supporting services. REFERENCES Basic Military Requirements, NAVEDTRA 14277, Naval Education and Training Professional Development and Technology Center, Pensacola, FL, 1999. Standard Organization and Regulations of the U.S. Navy, OPNAVINST 3120.32C, Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, DC, 1994. The United States Government Manual — 1999/2000, Office of the Federal Register National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, DC, Revised June 1, 1999. 5-19