U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff

The U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) is a group of senior military leaders who advise the President and the Secretary of Defense on military matters. It includes the heads of each military branch—Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps—and the Chief of the National Guard Bureau. The JCS helps coordinate military strategy, operations, and planning, ensuring that the various branches work together effectively. Although they do not have command authority over troops, their recommendations shape U.S. military policy and support defense decisions.