Joint Chiefs of Staff

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) is a group of senior military leaders in the United States Department of Defense, established formally by the National Security Act of 1947. The JCS originally included the Chairman, the heads of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and later the Commandant of the Marine Corps and Chief of the National Guard Bureau. The body serves as the principal military advisory group to the President, Secretary of Defense, and National Security Council. Over the decades, the JCS has played a critical role in shaping U.S. military strategy and operations, coordinating joint actions among the armed services, and responding to national and international crises.