Military Chain of Command 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the role of the National Security Council (NSC) in the chain of command?
- It commands troops in combat
- It advises the President on national security and defense policy (Correct answer)
- It replaces the Joint Chiefs of Staff
- It issues orders directly to combatant commanders
Correct answer: It advises the President on national security and defense policy
The NSC advises and assists the President in coordinating national security and defense policy.
Question 2: Which law defines the chain of command from the President to combatant commanders?
- Posse Comitatus Act
- Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986 (Correct answer)
- War Powers Resolution
- Defense Authorization Act
Correct answer: Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986
The Goldwater-Nichols Act restructured the chain of command, running from the President through the SecDef to combatant commanders.
Question 3: A platoon leader reports directly to which level of command?
- Battalion commander
- Company commander (Correct answer)
- Brigade commander
- Division commander
Correct answer: Company commander
A platoon leader is subordinate to and reports directly to the company commander.
Question 4: What is 'command authority' in the U.S. military?
- The right to make administrative decisions only
- Lawful authority over subordinates by virtue of rank and assignment (Correct answer)
- Permission to requisition supplies
- Authority granted only during wartime
Correct answer: Lawful authority over subordinates by virtue of rank and assignment
Command authority is the lawful power a commander exercises over subordinates by virtue of rank and assigned duties.
Question 5: Which officer heads each geographic combatant command?
- A colonel (O-6)
- A brigadier general (O-7)
- A four-star general or admiral (Correct answer)
- The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
Correct answer: A four-star general or admiral
Geographic combatant commanders are four-star generals or admirals with authority over forces in their area of responsibility.
Question 6: What does 'operational control' (OPCON) allow a commander to do?
- Permanently reassign troops to another unit
- Organize, employ, and direct assigned forces for specific missions (Correct answer)
- Manage pay and administrative matters
- Override strategic guidance from the Pentagon
Correct answer: Organize, employ, and direct assigned forces for specific missions
OPCON gives a commander authority to organize and employ forces for accomplishing assigned missions.
Question 7: In an emergency, can a subordinate act without explicit orders from higher command?
- Never — all actions require explicit orders
- Yes, when immediate action is necessary to prevent loss of life or mission failure (Correct answer)
- Only if the commander is more than 50 miles away
- Only non-commissioned officers may act independently
Correct answer: Yes, when immediate action is necessary to prevent loss of life or mission failure
Military doctrine allows subordinates to take initiative in emergencies when delay would cause mission failure or loss of life.
Military Chain of Command 3
What is the role of the National Security Council (NSC) in the chain of command?