The
Joint Chiefs of Staff (
JCS) is a body of senior uniformed leaders in the
United States Department of Defense who advise the
Secretary of Defense, the
Homeland Security Council, the
National Security Council and the
President of the United States on military matters. The composition of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is defined by statute and consists of the
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (
CJCS),
Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (
VCJCS), and the Military Service Chiefs from the
Army,
Marine Corps,
Navy,
Air Force, and the
Chief of the National Guard Bureau, all appointed by the President following
Senate confirmation. Each of the individual Military Service Chiefs, outside of their Joint Chiefs of Staff obligations, works directly for the Secretary of the Military Department concerned, i.e.,
Secretary of the Army,
Secretary of the Navy, and the
Secretary of the Air Force.