The Department of Defense is responsible for providing the military forces needed to deter war and protect the security of our country. The major elements of these forces are the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force consisting of about 1.4 million men and women on active duty. They are backed, in case of emergency, by the l million members of the Reserve and National Guard. In addition, there are about 700,000 civilian employees in the Defense Department.
Under the President, who is also Commander-in-Chief, the Secretary of Defense exercises authority, direction, and control over the Department, which includes the separately organized military departments of Army, Navy, and Air Force, the Joint Chiefs of Staff providing military advice, the unified combatant commands, and various defense agencies established for specific purposes.