Which chain of command runs from the President, through the Secretary of Defense, to the Secretaries of the Military Departments?

• A. Unified Command
• B. Strategic Chain of Command
• C. Administrative Chain of Command (non operational)
• D. Operational Chain of Command

Answer: (C)

This question tests understanding that the U.S. military operates two parallel lines of authority: an administrative (non-operational) chain and an operational chain. The path from the President through the Secretary of Defense to the Secretaries of the Military Departments is the Administrative Chain of Command. This line handles non-operational matters—policies, budgeting, personnel, administration, and force structure—under civilian leadership. It sets up and oversees how the services are organized and run, but it does not direct battlefield or mission execution.

Direct combat and mission control follow the Operational Chain of Command, which goes from the President and the Secretary of Defense down to the Combatant Commanders for executing operations. Terms like Unified Command describe organizational structures for coordinating forces across services, not the specific civilian-to-service administrative path. The term often referenced for non-operational oversight is Administrative Chain of Command (non-operational), which is why that option is the best fit here.