CHAPTER 5
UNITED STATES MILITARY ORGANIZATION
After graduating from Navy recruit training, you
went on to your first school or duty station. At that time
you were probably either a seaman recruit or a seaman
apprentice. As you progressed to seaman, you learned
from others. You were trained to stand watches and
perform your job properly. As you go up in rate you
will receive additional responsibilities and authority
along with the privileges of each new paygrade. At this
time, you are preparing for advancement to petty
officer third class and above.
Depending upon where you are stationed, you may
be assigned to any variety of positions of authority. You
even may be called upon to help in some of the training
of your shipmates. The experience and training you
have gained while moving up the advancement ladder
will be a valuable asset to you in performing your
present and future duties.
In this chapter, you will study the military
organization and some typical military duties a petty
officer class will be expected to perform.
MILITARY ORGANIZATION OTHER
THAN DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
Learning Objectives: Recall the mission and function
of the President, Secretary of Defense, secretaries of the
military departments, Chairman and Joint Chiefs of
Staff, and the unified combatant commands of the U.S.
Armed Forces.
While standing watch as petty officer of the watch
(POOW), you will on many occasions be “passing the
word” for official visitors to your ship or station.
Words such as “COMPHIBRON FIVE, arriving” or
“COMDESGRU TWO, departing” are examples of the
proper way to announce arrivals or departures. You
will need to know the names and abbreviations and be
aware of the missions of major commands within the
Department of the Navy. On many quarterdecks there
are pictures of members of the chain of command
(COC) and any other COC or officials deployed at that
command. You should become familiar with them for
sight recognition.
In addition as a second class petty officer knowing
the military chain of command starting with the
Commander in Chief of the United States Armed
Forces will serve as a foundation for military bearing.
Knowing the “big” picture and the importance of each
activity’s role in the chain of command will aid you in
understanding and explaining to subordinates how our
military works.
PRESIDENT (COMMANDER IN CHIEF)
Article II, section 1, of the Constitution provides
that the executive power shall be vested in a President
of the United States of America. The President shall
hold office for a term of 4 years, together with the vice
president, chosen for the same term. In addition to the
powers set forth in the Constitution, the statutes have
conferred upon the President specific authority and
responsibility covering a wide range of matters. The
President is the administrative head of the executive
branch of the government, which includes numerous
agencies, both temporary and permanent, as well as the
14 executive departments.
The President’s power as the Commander in Chief
of the Armed Forces is extensive. That power increases
in war or any other national emergency. For example,
the President may declare an emergency and call out
the military reserves. He or she may even order the
armed forces into military action before Congress
actually declares war. Often in cases of national
emergency of vital American interests, a President has
referred a matter to Congress after the fact.
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I can imagine no more rewarding career. And any man who may be asked
in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with
a good deal of pride and satisfaction: “I served in the United States Navy.”
—President John F. Kennedy
