Omar Bennett
The United States Department of Defense (DoD) is an executive department of the U.S. federal government that is responsible for coordinating and supervising the six U.S. armed services: the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Space Force, and the Coast Guard. The DoD's mission is to provide the military forces needed to deter war and ensure national security. To accomplish this, the DoD is organized into the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Joint Staff, DoD Office of the Inspector General, CCMDs, MilDeps, Defense Agencies, and DoD Field Activities. The DoD is the nation's largest employer, with over 2.9 million employees, and has a significant budget to match, receiving \$686 billion in the FY2019 budget.
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What You'll Learn
Supervising the six US armed services
The United States Department of Defense (DoD, USDOD, or DOD) is an executive department of the US federal government. It is the nation's largest employer, with over 1.3 million active-duty service members, 750,000 civilian personnel, and more than 811,000 National Guard and Reserve service members. The DoD is responsible for coordinating and supervising the six US armed services: the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Space Force, and the Coast Guard for some purposes.
Each branch of the military has a unique mission within the overall mission of US security and peace. The Army is the dominant land power, moving into an area, securing it, and instilling order and values before leaving. The Air Force is the nation's source of air and space power, flying planes, helicopters, and satellites. The Space Force, established in 2019, is the newest branch of the military and is still in development. The Navy is responsible for naval power and operations, while the Marine Corps provides support and combat capabilities on the ground and at sea. The Coast Guard has both military and law enforcement duties and is part of the Department of Homeland Security. However, during a declared state of war, the President or Congress may direct the Coast Guard to operate as part of the Department of the Navy.
The DoD's mission is to "provide the military forces needed to deter war and ensure our nation's security". This mission depends on having the right personnel and equipment in the right place at the right time to protect national interests. The DoD is also responsible for overseeing, directing, and controlling the planning and employment of global or theatre-level military forces and the programs and operations essential to the defence mission. The DoD manages the nation's coordinating authorities and assets in disciplines of signals intelligence, geospatial intelligence, and measurement and signature intelligence. It also builds, launches, and operates the Intelligence Community's satellite assets.
The DoD is headed by the Secretary of Defense, a cabinet-level head who reports directly to the President. The Secretary of Defense oversees the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Joint Staff, the DoD Office of the Inspector General (DoD IG), Combatant Commands (CCMDs), the Secretaries of the Military Departments (MilDeps), Defense Agencies, and DoD Field Activities (DA/DoD FAs), among other offices, agencies, and commands. The DoD's budget is substantial, reflecting the importance of its role, with a base budget of $533.7 billion in 2010 and $686 billion in 2019.
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Managing intelligence and satellite assets
The Department of Defense (DoD) is an executive department of the US federal government. It is the federal government's largest agency and one of the world's most complex organisations. The DoD is responsible for coordinating and supervising the six US armed services: the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. The department's mission is "to provide the military forces needed to deter war and ensure our nation's security".
The DoD has a vast scope of responsibility, including overseeing, directing, and controlling the planning and employment of military forces and the operations essential to its defence mission. This includes managing intelligence and satellite assets.
The DoD manages the nation's coordinating authorities and assets in disciplines of signals intelligence, geospatial intelligence, and measurement and signature intelligence. It also builds, launches, and operates the Intelligence Community's satellite assets. The DoD also has its own human intelligence service, which contributes to the CIA's human intelligence efforts and military human intelligence priorities.
The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), a part of the DoD, designs, builds, and operates reconnaissance satellites. NRO products are provided to customers like the CIA and the DoD and can be used to warn of potential trouble spots, help plan military operations, and monitor the environment.
The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), a combat support agency within the DoD, is a major producer and manager of foreign military intelligence. With over 16,500 employees worldwide, the DIA provides military intelligence to warfighters, defence policymakers, and force planners. The DIA director acts as the principal adviser to the secretary of defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on military intelligence matters.
The National Security Agency (NSA), also a part of the DoD, is at the forefront of communications and information technology. The NSA supports military customers, national policymakers, and the counterterrorism and counterintelligence communities, as well as international allies.
The DoD's management of intelligence and satellite assets is a critical component of modern defence strategies, leveraging technological advancements to maintain global security and intelligence.
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Providing military forces to deter war
The United States Department of Defense (DoD) is an executive department of the US federal government. It is responsible for coordinating and supervising the six US armed services: the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Space Force, and the Coast Guard for some purposes. The DoD is the Federal Government's largest agency, with over 1.4 million active-duty uniformed personnel in the six armed services. It also supervises over 778,000 National Guard and reservist personnel and over 747,000 civilians, bringing the total to over 2.91 million employees.
The DoD's enduring mission is to provide combat-credible military forces to deter war and protect the security of the nation. The DoD mission depends on military and civilian personnel and equipment being in the right place, at the right time, with the right capabilities, and in the right quantities to protect national interests. The mission also depends on companies, universities, alliances, partnerships, and innovators, as well as the support of the American people. The Department’s scope of responsibility includes overseeing, directing, and controlling the planning for and employment of global or theatre-level military forces and the programs and operations essential to the defence mission.
The DoD provides a lethal and effective Joint Force that, combined with its network of allies and partners, sustains American influence and advances shared security and prosperity. The Joint Chiefs of Staff assist the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in providing strategic direction to the armed forces, including global military integration and joint readiness, capabilities, and force development. The Joint Staff also assists in strategic and contingency planning. Combatant commands accomplish assigned military missions as directed.
The DoD also has its own human intelligence service, which contributes to the CIA's human intelligence efforts while focusing on military human intelligence priorities. The DoD's TRICARE program serves approximately 9.4 million beneficiaries, including military service members, retirees, and their families.
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Ensuring national security
The United States Department of Defense (DoD) is an executive department of the US federal government with the primary mission of ensuring national security and supervising US military forces. It is the federal government's largest agency and one of the most complex organisations in the world. The DoD is headed by the secretary of defense, who is a cabinet-level head reporting directly to the US president.
The DoD's mission depends on its military and civilian personnel, equipment, and capabilities, all of which must be in the right place at the right time and in the right quantities to protect national interests. This includes overseeing, directing, and controlling the planning and employment of global or theatre-level military forces and the operations essential to the defence mission. The DoD is responsible for coordinating and supervising the six US armed services: the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Space Force, and the Coast Guard for some purposes, along with related functions and agencies.
The DoD provides the military forces needed to deter war and ensure national security. It manages the nation's coordinating authorities and assets in disciplines of signals intelligence, geospatial intelligence, and measurement and signature intelligence. It also builds, launches, and operates the Intelligence Community's satellite assets. The DoD has its own human intelligence service, which contributes to the CIA's human intelligence efforts while focusing on military priorities.
The DoD's Fourth Estate comprises organisational entities that are not part of the MilDeps or CCMDs, including the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Joint Staff, and the DoD Office of the Inspector General (DoD IG). The Joint Chiefs of Staff assist the Chairman in providing strategic direction to the armed forces, including strategic and contingency planning, global military integration, and joint readiness. The DoD also operates several joint services schools, including the Eisenhower School and the National War College.
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Training, equipping and providing combat-ready forces
The Department of Defense (DoD) is responsible for organizing, training, equipping, and providing combat-ready forces as directed by the President and Secretary of Defense. The organization that organizes, trains, equips, and provides combat-ready forces to conduct operations is the Department of Defense (DoD). The Military Departments are involved in the organization, training, equipment, and provision of combat-ready forces to conduct operations as directed by the President and Secretary of Defense.
The Military Departments play a key role in national defense and operational readiness. The military services include the various branches of the armed forces, such as the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. These entities organize, train, equip, and prepare forces for operations as mandated by the President and Secretary of Defense. The Army may be deployed for ground operations in conflict zones, while the Navy might secure maritime routes to protect trade. The Air Force can provide support with air strikes or surveillance operations, demonstrating the diverse capabilities of the military services.
The Department of Defense's stated mission is "to provide the military forces needed to deter war and ensure our nation's security". The DoD mission depends on military and civilian personnel and equipment being in the right place, at the right time, with the right capabilities, and in the right quantities to protect national interests. The mission also depends on companies, universities, alliances, partnerships, and innovators, as well as the support of the American people. The Department of Defense is the Federal Government's largest agency and one of the most complex organizations in the world. With more than 1.3 million active-duty service members, 750,000 civilian personnel, and more than 811,000 National Guard and Reserve service members, the DoD is the nation's largest employer.
Training is one of the key functions of each of the services within the Department of Defense (DoD). Training is so important that each service has its own major subordinate command dedicated to training. The U.S. military defines training as “instruction and applied exercises for acquiring and retaining knowledge, skills, abilities, and attitudes (KSAAs) necessary to complete specific tasks.” Resourcing training with enough money is a national endeavor, not just a military one. The Department of Defense, in conjunction with other federal departments and agencies, submits budgets to the Administration that include all of the various training requirements. The Administration submits that budget to Congress as part of its overall budget. Congress considers all of the training requirements and costs in crafting an appropriations bill, which is eventually subject to a vote, approved, and signed by the President.
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Frequently asked questions
The Department of Defense's mission is to provide the military forces needed to deter war and ensure the security of the United States.
The Department of Defense is the nation's largest employer, with over 1.3 million active-duty service members, 750,000 civilian personnel, and more than 811,000 National Guard and Reserve service members.
The Department of Defense is responsible for overseeing, directing, and controlling the planning and employment of global or theater-level military forces, as well as the programs and operations essential to the defense mission.
The Department of Defense includes the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the departments of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and related functions and agencies such as the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), and the Defense Health Agency (DHA).
