Collapse to view only § 152. Chairman: appointment; grade and rank
- § 151. Joint Chiefs of Staff: composition; functions
- § 152. Chairman: appointment; grade and rank
- § 153. Chairman: functions
- § 154. Vice Chairman
- § 155. Joint Staff
- [§ 155a. Repealed.
- § 156. Legal Counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
§ 151. Joint Chiefs of Staff: composition; functions
(a)Composition.—There are in the Department of Defense the Joint Chiefs of Staff, headed by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Joint Chiefs of Staff consist of the following:
(1) The Chairman.
(2) The Vice Chairman.
(3) The Chief of Staff of the Army.
(4) The Chief of Naval Operations.
(5) The Chief of Staff of the Air Force.
(6) The Commandant of the Marine Corps.
(7) The Chief of the National Guard Bureau.
(8) The Chief of Space Operations.
(b)Function as Military Advisers.—
(1) The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the principal military adviser to the President, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council, and the Secretary of Defense.
(2) The other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are military advisers to the President, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council, and the Secretary of Defense as specified in subsection (d).
(c)Consultation by Chairman.—
(1) In carrying out his functions, duties, and responsibilities, the Chairman shall, as necessary, consult with and seek the advice of—
(A) the other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and
(B) the commanders of the unified and specified combatant commands.
(2) Subject to subsection (d), in presenting advice with respect to any matter to the President, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council, or the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman shall, as he considers appropriate, inform the President, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council, or the Secretary of Defense, as the case may be, of the range of military advice and opinion with respect to that matter.
(d)Advice and Opinions of Members Other Than Chairman.—
(1) After first informing the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman, the members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, individually or collectively, in their capacity as military advisors, may provide advice to the President, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council, or the Secretary of Defense on a particular matter on the judgment of the military member.
(2) A member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (other than the Chairman) may submit to the Chairman advice or an opinion in disagreement with, or advice or an opinion in addition to, the advice presented by the Chairman to the President, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council, or the Secretary of Defense. If a member submits such advice or opinion, the Chairman shall present the advice or opinion of such member at the same time he presents his own advice to the President, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council, or the Secretary of Defense, as the case may be.
(3) The Chairman shall establish procedures to ensure that the presentation of his own advice to the President, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council, or the Secretary of Defense is not unduly delayed by reason of the submission of the individual advice or opinion of another member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
[(e) Repealed. Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title IX, § 921(a)(2)(C), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2351.]
(f)Recommendations to Congress.—After first informing the Secretary of Defense, a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff may make such recommendations to Congress relating to the Department of Defense as he considers appropriate.
(g)Meetings of JCS.—
(1) The Chairman shall convene regular meetings of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
(2) Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the President and the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman shall—
(A) preside over the Joint Chiefs of Staff;
(B) provide agenda for the meetings of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (including, as the Chairman considers appropriate, any subject for the agenda recommended by any other member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff);
(C) assist the Joint Chiefs of Staff in carrying on their business as promptly as practicable; and
(D) determine when issues under consideration by the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall be decided.
(Added Pub. L. 99–433, title II, § 201, Oct. 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 1005; amended Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title IX, § 911(a), Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2473; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title IX, § 908(a), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3403; Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title V, § 512(a), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1393; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title IX, § 921(a), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2351; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title IX, § 953(c), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1564.)
§ 152. Chairman: appointment; grade and rank
(a)
(1) There is a Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, from the officers of the regular components of the armed forces. The Chairman serves at the pleasure of the President for a term of four years, beginning on October 1 of an odd-numbered year. The limitation does not apply in time of war.
(2) In the event of the death, retirement, resignation, or reassignment of the officer serving as Chairman before the end of the term for which the officer was appointed, an officer appointed to fill the vacancy shall serve as Chairman only for the remainder of the original term, but may be reappointed as provided in paragraph (1).
(3) The President may extend to eight years the combined period of service of an officer as Chairman and Vice Chairman if the President determines that such action is in the national interest. The limitation in this paragraph does not apply in time of war.
(b)Requirement for Appointment.—
(1) The President may appoint an officer as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff only if the officer has served as—
(A) the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff;
(B) the Chief of Staff of the Army, the Chief of Naval Operations, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, or the Chief of Space Operations; or
(C) the commander of a unified or specified combatant command.
(2) The President may waive paragraph (1) in the case of an officer if the President determines such action is necessary in the national interest.
(c)Grade and Rank.—The Chairman, while so serving, holds the grade of general, in the case of the Navy, admiral, or, in the case of an officer of the Space Force, the equivalent grade, and outranks all other officers of the armed forces. However, he may not exercise military command over the Joint Chiefs of Staff or any of the armed forces.
(Added Pub. L. 99–433, title II, § 201, Oct. 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 1006; amended Pub. L. 100–180, div. A, title XIII, § 1314(b)(1)(A), Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 1175; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title IX, § 921(b)(1), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2351; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, § 924(b)(7)(A), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3822.)
§ 153. Chairman: functions
(a)Planning; Advice; Policy Formulation.—Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the President and the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall be responsible for the following:
(1)Strategic direction.—Assisting the President and the Secretary in providing for the strategic direction of the armed forces.
(2)Strategic and contingency planning.—In matters relating to strategic and contingency planning—
(A) developing strategic frameworks and preparing strategic plans, as required, to guide the use and employment of military force and related activities across all geographic regions and military functions and domains, and to sustain military efforts over different durations of time, as necessary;
(B) advising the Secretary on the production of the national defense strategy required by section 113(g) of this title and the national security strategy required by section 108 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3043);
(C) preparing military analysis, options, and plans, as the Chairman considers appropriate, to recommend to the President and the Secretary;
(D) providing for the preparation and review of contingency plans which conform to policy guidance from the President and the Secretary; and
(E) preparing joint logistic and mobility plans to support national defense strategies and recommending the assignment of responsibilities to the armed forces in accordance with such plans.
(3)Global military integration.—In matters relating to global military strategic and operational integration—
(A) providing advice to the President and the Secretary on ongoing military operations; and
(B) advising the Secretary on the allocation and transfer of forces among geographic and functional combatant commands, as necessary, to address transregional, multi-domain, and multifunctional threats.
(4)Comprehensive joint readiness.—In matters relating to comprehensive joint readiness—
(A) evaluating the overall preparedness of the joint force to perform the responsibilities of that force under national defense strategies and to respond to significant contingencies worldwide;
(B) assessing the risks to United States missions, strategies, and military personnel that stem from shortfalls in military readiness across the armed forces, and developing risk mitigation options;
(C) advising the Secretary on critical deficiencies and strengths in joint force capabilities (including manpower, logistics, and mobility support) identified during the preparation and review of national defense strategies and contingency plans and assessing the effect of such deficiencies and strengths on meeting national security objectives and policy and on strategic plans;
(D) advising the Secretary on the missions and functions that are likely to require contractor or other external support to meet national security objectives and policy and strategy, and the risks associated with such support; and
(E) establishing and maintaining, after consultation with the commanders of the unified and specified combatant commands, a uniform system of evaluating the preparedness of each such command, and groups of commands collectively, to carry out missions assigned to the command or commands.
(5)Joint capability development.—In matters relating to joint capability development—
(A) identifying new joint military capabilities based on advances in technology and concepts of operation needed to maintain the technological and operational superiority of the armed forces, and recommending investments and experiments in such capabilities to the Secretary;
(B) performing military net assessments of the joint capabilities of the armed forces of the United States and its allies in comparison with the capabilities of potential adversaries;
(C) advising the Secretary under section 163(b)(2) of this title on the priorities of the requirements identified by the commanders of the unified and specified combatant commands;
(D) advising the Secretary on the extent to which the program recommendations and budget proposals of the military departments and other components of the Department of Defense for a fiscal year conform with the priorities established in national defense strategies and with the priorities established for the requirements of the unified and specified combatant commands;
(E) advising the Secretary on new and alternative joint military capabilities, and alternative program recommendations and budget proposals, within projected resource levels and guidance provided by the Secretary, in order to achieve greater conformance with the priorities referred to in subparagraph (D);
(F) assessing joint military capabilities and identifying, approving, and prioritizing gaps in such capabilities to meet national defense strategies, pursuant to section 181 of this title; and
(G) recommending to the Secretary appropriate trade-offs among life-cycle cost, schedule, performance, and procurement quantity objectives in the acquisition of materiel and equipment to support the strategic and contingency plans required by this paragraph in the most effective and efficient manner.
(6)Joint force development activities.—In matters relating to joint force development activities—
(A) developing doctrine for the joint employment of the armed forces;
(B) formulating policies and technical standards, and executing actions, for the joint training of the armed forces;
(C) formulating policies for coordinating the military education of members of the armed forces;
(D) formulating policies for development and experimentation on both urgent and long-term concepts for joint force employment, including establishment of a process within the Joint Staff for analyzing and prioritizing gaps in capabilities that could potentially be addressed by joint concept development using existing or modified joint force capabilities;
(E) formulating policies for gathering, developing, and disseminating joint lessons learned for the armed forces; and
(F) advising the Secretary on development of joint command, control, communications, and cybercapability, including integration and interoperability of such capability, through requirements, integrated architectures, data standards, and assessments.
(7)Other matters.—In other matters—
(A) recommending to the Secretary, in accordance with section 166 of this title, a budget proposal for activities of each unified and specified combatant command;
(B) providing for representation of the United States on the Military Staff Committee of the United Nations in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations; and
(C) performing such other duties as may be prescribed by law or by the President or the Secretary.
(b)National Military Strategy.—
(1)National military strategy.—
(A) The Chairman shall determine each even-numbered year whether to prepare a new National Military Strategy in accordance with this paragraph or to update a strategy previously prepared in accordance with this paragraph. The Chairman shall provide such National Military Strategy or update to the Secretary of Defense in time for transmittal to Congress pursuant to paragraph (3), including in time for inclusion in the report of the Secretary of Defense, if any, under paragraph (4).
(B) Each National Military Strategy (or update) under this paragraph shall be based on a comprehensive review conducted by the Chairman in conjunction with the other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the commanders of the unified and specified combatant commands. Each update shall address only those parts of the most recent National Military Strategy for which the Chairman determines, on the basis of the review, that a modification is needed.
(C) Each National Military Strategy (or update) submitted under this paragraph shall describe how the military will support the objectives of the United States as articulated in—
(i) the most recent National Security Strategy prescribed by the President pursuant to section 108 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3043);
(ii) the most recent annual report of the Secretary of Defense submitted to the President and Congress pursuant to section 113 of this title;
(iii) the most recent national defense strategy presented by the Secretary of Defense pursuant to section 113 of this title;
(iv) the most recent policy guidance provided by the Secretary of Defense pursuant to section 113(g) of this title; and
(v) any other national security or defense strategic guidance issued by the President or the Secretary of Defense.
(D) At a minimum, each National Military Strategy (or update) submitted under this paragraph shall—
(i) assess the strategic environment, threats, opportunities, and challenges that affect the national security of the United States;
(ii) assess military ends, ways, and means to support the objectives referred to in subparagraph (C);
(iii) provide the framework for the assessment by the Chairman of military risk, and for the development of risk mitigation options;
(iv) develop military options to address threats and opportunities;
(v) assess joint force capabilities, capacities, and resources; and
(vi) establish military guidance for the development of the joint force and the total force building on guidance by the President and the Secretary of Defense as referred to in subparagraph (C).
(2)Risk assessment.—
(A) The Chairman shall prepare each year an assessment of the risks associated with the most current National Military Strategy (or update) under paragraph (1). The risk assessment shall be known as the “Risk Assessment of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff”. The Chairman shall complete preparation of the Risk Assessment in time for transmittal to Congress pursuant to paragraph (3), including in time for inclusion in the report of the Secretary of Defense, if any, under paragraph (4).
(B) The Risk Assessment shall do the following:
(i) As the Chairman considers appropriate, update any changes to the strategic environment, threats, objectives, force planning and sizing constructs, assessments, and assumptions that informed the National Military Strategy (or update) required by this section.
(ii) Identify and define the military strategic risks to United States interests and military risks in executing the National Military Strategy (or update).
(iii) Identify and define levels of risk, including an identification of what constitutes “significant” risk in the judgment of the Chairman.
(iv)(I) Identify and assess risk in the National Military Strategy (or update) by category and level and the ways in which risk might manifest itself, including how risk is projected to increase, decrease, or remain stable over time; and(II) for each category of risk, assess the extent to which current or future risk increases, decreases, or is stable as a result of budgetary priorities, tradeoffs, or fiscal constraints or limitations as currently estimated and applied in the current future-years defense program under section 221 of this title.
(v) Identify and assess risk associated with the assumptions or plans of the National Military Strategy (or update) about the contributions of external support, as appropriate.
(vi) Identify and assess the critical deficiencies and strengths in force capabilities (including manpower, logistics, intelligence, and mobility support) identified during the preparation and review of the contingency plans of each unified combatant command, and identify and assess the effect of such deficiencies and strengths for the National Military Strategy (or update).
(vii) Identify and assess risk resulting from, or likely to result from, current or projected effects on military installation resilience.
(3)Submittal of national military strategy and risk assessment to congress.—
(A) Not later than February 15 of each even-numbered year, the Chairman shall, through the Secretary of Defense, submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives the National Military Strategy or update, if any, prepared under paragraph (1) in such year.
(B) Not later than February 15 each year, the Chairman shall, through the Secretary of Defense, submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives the Risk Assessment prepared under paragraph (2) in such year.
(C) The National Military Strategy (or update) and Risk Assessment submitted under this subsection shall be classified in form, but shall include an unclassified summary.
(4)Secretary of defense reports to congress.—
(A) In transmitting a National Military Strategy (or update) or Risk Assessment to Congress pursuant to paragraph (3), the Secretary of Defense shall include in the transmittal such comments of the Secretary thereon, if any, as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(B) If the Risk Assessment transmitted under paragraph (3) in a year includes an assessment that a risk or risks associated with the National Military Strategy (or update) are significant, or that critical deficiencies in force capabilities exist for a contingency plan described in paragraph (2)(B)(vi), the Secretary shall include in the transmittal of the Risk Assessment the plan of the Secretary for mitigating such risk or deficiency. A plan for mitigating risk of deficiency under this subparagraph shall—
(i) address the risk assumed in the National Military Strategy (or update) concerned, and the additional actions taken or planned to be taken to address such risk using only current technology and force structure capabilities; and
(ii) specify, for each risk addressed, the extent of, and a schedule for expected mitigation of, such risk, and an assessment of the potential for residual risk, if any, after mitigation.
(c)Annual Report on Combatant Command Requirements.—
(1) Not later than 25 days after the date on which the budget of the President for a fiscal year is submitted to Congress pursuant to section 1105(a) of title 31, the Chairman shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the requirements of the combatant commands established under section 161 of this title.
(2) Each report under paragraph (1) shall contain the following:
(A) A consolidation of the integrated priority lists of requirements of the combatant commands.
(B) The Chairman’s views on the consolidated lists.
(C) A description of the extent to which the most recent future-years defense program (under section 221 of this title) addresses the requirements on the consolidated lists.
(D) A description of the funding proposed in the President’s budget for the next fiscal year, and for the subsequent fiscal years covered by the most recent future-years defense program, to address each deficiency in readiness identified during the joint readiness review conducted under section 117 of this title for the first quarter of the current fiscal year.
(d)Briefing Requirement.—
(1) Not later than 15 days after the submission of the risk assessment required under subsection (b)(2) or March 1 of each even-numbered year, whichever is earlier, the Chairman shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a briefing on the activities of the Chairman under this section.
(2) The briefing required under paragraph (1) shall include—
(A) a detailed review of the risk assessment required under paragraph (2) of subsection (b), including how such risk assessment addresses the elements required in subparagraph (B) of such paragraph;
(B) an analysis of how the risk assessment informs and supports other Joint Staff assessments, including joint capability development assessments, joint force development assessments, comprehensive joint readiness assessments, and global military integration assessments; and
(C) if the risk assessment is not delivered at or before the time of the briefing, a timeline for when the risk assessment will be submitted to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
(Added Pub. L. 99–433, title II, § 201, Oct. 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 1007; amended Pub. L. 106–65, div. A, title X, § 1033, Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 751; Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A], title IX, § 905], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–226; Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title IX, § 921(b), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1198; Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title X, § 1062(a)(1), Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2649; Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title IX, § 903, title X, § 1043(b)(2), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1558, 1610; Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title VIII, § 820(b), title IX, § 941, Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1501, 1548; Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title VIII, § 845(b), title IX, §§ 951(a), 952, Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1848, 1891, 1892; Pub. L. 113–66, div. A, title IX, § 905, Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 817; Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title X, § 1071(c)(2), (g)(3), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3508, 3511; Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title IX, § 901, title X, § 1081(a)(3), Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 956, 1000; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title IX, §§ 921(c), 943, title X, § 1064(c), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2351, 2369, 2409; Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title X, § 1081(a)(8), (d)(10), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1594, 1600; Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title IX, §§ 912, 913, Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1923; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title III, § 311(c), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1626; Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title X, § 1041(c), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 388.)
§ 154. Vice Chairman
(a)Appointment.—
(1) There is a Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, from the officers of the regular components of the armed forces.
(2) The Chairman and Vice Chairman may not be members of the same armed force. However, the President may waive the restriction in the preceding sentence for a limited period of time in order to provide for the orderly transition of officers appointed to serve in the positions of Chairman and Vice Chairman.
(3) The Vice Chairman serves at the pleasure of the President for a single term of four years, beginning on October 1 of an odd-numbered year, except that the term may not begin in the same year as the term of a Chairman. In time of war, there is no limit on the number of reappointments.
(4)
(A) The Vice Chairman shall not be eligible for promotion to the position of Chairman or any other position in the armed forces.
(B) The President may waive subparagraph (A) if the President determines such action is necessary in the national interest.
(b)Requirement for Appointment.—
(1) The President may appoint an officer as Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff only if the officer—
(A) has the joint specialty under section 661 of this title; and
(B) has completed a full tour of duty in a joint duty assignment (as defined in section 664(f) 1
1 See References in Text note below.
of this title) as a general or flag officer.(2) The President may waive paragraph (1) in the case of an officer if the President determines such action is necessary in the national interest.
(c)Duties.—The Vice Chairman performs the duties prescribed for him as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Chairman with the approval of the Secretary of Defense.
(d)Function as Acting Chairman.—When there is a vacancy in the office of Chairman or in the absence or disability of the Chairman, the Vice Chairman acts as Chairman and performs the duties of the Chairman until a successor is appointed or the absence or disability ceases.
(e)Succession After Chairman and Vice Chairman.—When there is a vacancy in the offices of both Chairman and Vice Chairman or in the absence or disability of both the Chairman and the Vice Chairman, or when there is a vacancy in one such office and in the absence or disability of the officer holding the other, the President shall designate a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to act as and perform the duties of the Chairman until a successor to the Chairman or Vice Chairman is appointed or the absence or disability of the Chairman or Vice Chairman ceases.
(f)Grade and Rank.—The Vice Chairman, while so serving, holds the grade of general or, in the case of an officer of the Navy, admiral and outranks all other officers of the armed forces except the Chairman. The Vice Chairman may not exercise military command over the Joint Chiefs of Staff or any of the armed forces.
(Added Pub. L. 99–433, title II, § 201, Oct. 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 1008; amended Pub. L. 100–456, div. A, title V, § 519(a)(1), Sept. 29, 1988, 102 Stat. 1972; Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title IX, § 911(b)(1), Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2473; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title IX, § 921(d)(1), (2), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2354.)
§ 155. Joint Staff
(a)Appointment of Officers to Joint Staff.—
(1) There is a Joint Staff under the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Joint Staff assists the Chairman and, subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Chairman, the other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in carrying out their responsibilities.
(2) Officers of the armed forces (other than the Coast Guard) assigned to serve on the Joint Staff shall be selected by the Chairman in approximately equal numbers from—
(A) the Army;
(B) the Navy and the Marine Corps; and
(C) the Air Force and the Space Force.
(3) Selection of officers of an armed force to serve on the Joint Staff shall be made by the Chairman from a list of officers submitted by the Secretary of the military department having jurisdiction over that armed force. Each officer whose name is submitted shall be among those officers considered to be the most outstanding officers of that armed force. The Chairman may specify the number of officers to be included on any such list.
(b)Director.—The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, after consultation with the other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and with the approval of the Secretary of Defense, may select an officer to serve as Director of the Joint Staff.
(c)Management of Joint Staff.—The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff manages the Joint Staff and the Director of the Joint Staff. The Joint Staff shall perform such duties as the Chairman prescribes and shall perform such duties under such procedures as the Chairman prescribes.
(d)Operation of Joint Staff.—The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the Joint Staff is independently organized and operated so that the Joint Staff supports the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in meeting the congressional purpose set forth in the last clause of section 2 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3002) to provide—
(1) for the unified strategic direction of the combatant forces;
(2) for their operation under unified command; and
(3) for their integration into an efficient team of land, naval, and air forces.
(e)Prohibition of Function as Armed Forces General Staff.—The Joint Staff shall not operate or be organized as an overall Armed Forces General Staff and shall have no executive authority. The Joint Staff may be organized and may operate along conventional staff lines.
(f)Tour of Duty of Joint Staff Officers.—
(1) An officer who is assigned or detailed to permanent duty on the Joint Staff may not serve for a tour of duty of more than four years. However, such a tour of duty may be extended with the approval of the Secretary of Defense.
(2) In accordance with procedures established by the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff may suspend from duty and recommend the reassignment of any officer assigned to the Joint Staff. Upon receipt of such a recommendation, the Secretary concerned shall promptly reassign the officer.
(3) An officer completing a tour of duty with the Joint Staff may not be assigned or detailed to permanent duty on the Joint Staff within two years after relief from that duty except with the approval of the Secretary.
(4) Paragraphs (1) and (3) do not apply—
(A) in time of war; or
(B) during a national emergency declared by the President or Congress.
(g)Composition of Joint Staff.—
(1) The Joint Staff is composed of all members of the armed forces and civilian employees assigned or detailed to permanent duty in the executive part of the Department of Defense to perform the functions and duties prescribed under subsections (a) and (c).
(2) The Joint Staff does not include members of the armed forces or civilian employees assigned or detailed to permanent duty in a military department.
(h)Personnel Limitations.—
(1) The total number of members of the armed forces and civilian employees assigned or detailed to permanent duty for the Joint Staff may not exceed 2,250.
(2) Not more than 1,500 members of the armed forces on the active-duty list may be assigned or detailed to permanent duty for the Joint Staff.
(3) The limitations in paragraphs (1) and (2) do not apply in time of war.
(4) Each limitation in paragraphs (1) and (2) may be exceeded by a number equal to 15 percent of such limitation in time of national emergency.
(Added Pub. L. 99–433, title II, § 201, Oct. 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 1009; amended Pub. L. 100–180, div. A, title XIII, § 1314(b)(2), Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 1175; Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title IX, § 902, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1620; Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title IX, § 911(b)(2), Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2473; Pub. L. 103–35, title II, § 202(a)(8), May 31, 1993, 107 Stat. 101; Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title X, § 1071(c)(1), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3508; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title IX, § 903(b)(1), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2344; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title IX, § 901(a)(2)(A), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1541; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, § 924(b)(7)(B), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3822.)
[§ 155a. Repealed. Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title V, § 502(a)(1), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2102]
§ 156. Legal Counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
(a)In General.—There is a Legal Counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
(b)Selection for Appointment.—Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, the officer selected for appointment to serve as Legal Counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall be recommended by a board of officers convened by the Secretary of Defense that, insofar as practicable, is subject to the procedures applicable to selection boards convened under chapter 36 of this title.
(c)Duties.—
(1) The Legal Counsel of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall perform such legal duties in support of the responsibilities of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as the Chairman may prescribe.
(2) No officer or employee of the Department of Defense may interfere with the ability of the Legal Counsel to give independent legal advice to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and to the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
(Added Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title V, § 543(e)(1), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 115; amended Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title V, § 591, Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4474; Pub. L. 111–84, div. A, title V, § 501(a), Oct. 28, 2009, 123 Stat. 2272; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title V, § 502(b), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2102.)