EXAM 2025 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What are the established levels of responsibility for command, control, and communication
throughout a chain of command called? - ANS Command Authority
What extends from the U.S. president, through the secretary of defense, through two distinct
branches of command, and through each commander at every level in the branches of service?
- ANS Responsibility and Authority
The various levels within the chain of command have different responsibilities and authority;
however, each level in the chain is responsible for and accountable to whom? -
ANS Responsible for all lower levels and accountable to all higher levels
What document established the basic principles of civilian control of the U.S. armed forces? -
ANS U.S. Constitution
As commander in chief, the U.S. President has final command authority; however, as head of
the executive branch, what is the president subject to? - ANS Checks and Balances system of
the legislative and judicial branches
By statute, the chain of command runs from the U.S. president through the secretary of
defense then to whom? - ANS Combatant Commanders
For all forces not assigned to the Combatant Commanders, the chain of command runs from
the U.S. President, through the Secretary of Defense, and then to whom? - ANS Secretaries
of the military departments
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,When forces are assigned to the Combatant Commanders, administrative control over those
forces typically flows through whom? - ANS Their respective service branches
A provision of what act permits the U.S. president to authorize communications through the
chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, placing the chairman in the communications chain of
command? - ANS The public law 99-443, Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense
Recognization Act of 1986
What is America's largest government agency? - ANS Department of Defense
Whose mission is to provide military forces to deter war and protect the security of our
country? - ANS Department of Defense
Headquartered at the Pentagon, which offices are included in the Department of Defense? -
ANS - Office of the secretary of defense
- The joint chiefs of staff
- the department of the army, navy ( including the marine corps), and Air Force (including the
space force)
- unified combatant commands
- forces dedicated to combined commands, defense agencies, and field activities
As the civilian head of the Department of Defense, to whom does the Secretary of Defense
(SecDef) report directly? - ANS The U.S. President
The U.S. President appoints which secretary of defense with the advice and consent of whom? -
ANS The Senate
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,Who serves as principal defense policy advisor to the U.S. President and is responsible for the
formulation of general defense policy, policy related to all matters of direct and primary
concern to the DOD and for the execution of approved policy? - ANS SecDef
Who exercises operational chain of command between the U.S. President and the Combatant
Commanders? - ANS SecDef
Who, as a specific responsibility, provides written policy guidance for Department of Defense
national security objectives and policies, military mission priorities, and projected levels for
available resources? - ANS SecDef
Who provides the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff with written policy guidance regarding
contingency plans? - ANS SecDef
Who assists in matters requiring a long-range view, formulates broad defense policy, and
advises the Secretary of Defense on policies, as requested? - ANS The Armed Forces Policy
Council
Who are the members of the armed forces policy council? - ANS - SecDef, serving as the
chairman of the council
- Deputy SecDef
- Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and USAF
- Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
- Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment
- Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering
- Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
- Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology
- Deputy Under Secretary for Research and Engineering
- Deputy Under Secretary of dEFENSE FOR Acquisitions and Sustainment
- Service Chiefs
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, What are the six under secretaries of defense who assist the secretary of defense? -
ANS Policy
Comptroller
Personnel and Readiness
Acquisition and Sustainment
Research and Engineering
Intelligence
How many Under Secretaries of Defense assist the Secretary of Defense? - ANS 6
Who assists members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in carrying out the assigned responsibilities of
strategic direction, unified operation of combatant commands, and integration of all branches
of the military into an efficient force? - ANS The Joint Staff
By law, the direction of the Joint Staff rests exclusively with whom? - ANS Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff
Through whom does the chairman normally mange the joint staff? - ANS Director of the joint
staff
What percentage of the joint staff positions allocated to the navy do the marines account for? -
ANS About 20% percent
Who is appointed by the U.S. President, by and with advice and consent of the senate, and
holds the grade of general or admiral - ANS Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Who is the principal military advisor to the U.S. President, the national security council, and
SecDef? - ANS Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
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