Fourth member in the top four of the Operational Command?

Fourth member in the top four of the Operational Command?

• A. President
• B. SecDef
• C. Combatant Command
• D. CJCS

Answer: (C)

In the operational command structure, the President serves as Commander-in-Chief and sets the orders, with the Secretary of Defense carrying out defense policy and controlling resources. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff acts as the senior military adviser to the President and Secretary of Defense but does not directly command forces. The actual command authority over forces in operations rests with the Combatant Commands, which are the organizations that execute campaigns and conduct operations. Because of that arrangement, the fourth member in the top four of the operational command is the Combatant Commands.

In the operational command structure, the President serves as Commander-in-Chief and sets the orders, with the Secretary of Defense carrying out defense policy and controlling resources. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff acts as the senior military adviser to the President and Secretary of Defense but does not directly command forces. The actual command authority over forces in operations rests with the Combatant Commands, which are the organizations that execute campaigns and conduct operations. Because of that arrangement, the fourth member in the top four of the operational command is the Combatant Commands.