1、 https:/crsreports.congress.gov Updated November 8, 2021Defense Primer: Commanding U.S. Military OperationsMilitary operations, both in peacetime and in war, are an inherently complex undertaking. One key to success, therefore, is a clear, unified chain of command. This enables senior leaders in the
2、 U.S. governmentin particular, the President and the Secretary of Defenseto command and control military forces around the world. A (Very) Brief History of the Chain of Command The way that the United States commands and controls its forces is in large part a product of an inherent tension between i
3、mproving the effectiveness of U.S. forces, on the one hand, and preserving civilian control of the military, on the other. The experience of World War II convinced President Truman, among others, that a greater degree of coordination and integration between the U.S. military services was necessary t
4、o improve the conduct of military operations. Yet there was concern at the time that integrating these institutions might result in an overly powerful military staff element that could threaten the principle of civilian control of U.S. forces. The resulting compromise was to create a Joint Chiefs of
