By statute, which structure runs from the U.S. President, through the Secretary of Defense, to the Combatant Commanders?

• A. Operational Control
• B. Chain of Command
• C. Administrative Control
• D. Mission Command

Answer: (B)

The formal line of authority in U.S. military structure is the chain of command. By statute, the President serves as Commander in Chief, with civilian oversight and policy direction provided through the Secretary of Defense, and the Combatant Commanders executing military operations through that chain. This means orders flow from the President down through the Secretary of Defense to the Combatant Commanders who lead the Unified Commands, ensuring civilian control and centralized strategic direction.

Operational Control refers to directing actions of forces for a specific mission, and Administrative Control covers support and service functions; these are types of authority or control within the force, not the overarching line of authority itself. Mission Command is a leadership approach that emphasizes initiative and decentralized decision-making within given intent, not a hierarchical structure.