# Marine chain of command **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 30, 2003, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-chain-of-command/165202 "2003-03-30T11:08:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-chain-of-command/165202/1 "2003-03-30T11:08:28Z")
I know that the Marines use the same ranks as the Army and the Air Force, but they are still technically part of the Navy, right? If so, is the highest ranking Marine a four-star General? And does he report to an Admiral or someone else? (secdef?) ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-chain-of-command/165202/2 "2003-03-30T14:37:55Z")
The Commandant of the Marine Corps is a member of the[url="[http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs/almanac/almanac/organization/JCS.html](http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs/almanac/almanac/organization/JCS.html) Joint Chiefs of Staff all of whom are responsible to the Chairman. The Chairman reports directly to the Secretary of Defense. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-chain-of-command/165202/3 "2003-03-30T14:40:20Z")
Let’s try that [link](http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs/almanac/almanac/organization/JCS.html) again. Always preview, always preview, always preview, always preview … ---
**Author:** ![brianmelendez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/65b543/32.png) [@brianmelendez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianmelendez)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-chain-of-command/165202/4 "2003-03-30T15:31:03Z")
The Commandant of the Marine Corps and the Chief of Naval Operations are each co-equal [joint chiefs](http://www.dtic.mil/jcs/): the [Commandant](http://www.usmc.mil/cmc/33cmc.nsf/cmcmain) is a four-star general, and the [Chief](http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/cno/) is a [four-star admiral](http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/people/cno/cno-resp.html). But both the Marine Corps and the Navy are uniformed services within the Department of the Navy, and their chiefs report to the [Secretary of the Navy](http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/people/secnav/responsi.html): > [@](#): > > [**Military Service Chiefs**](http://www.dtic.mil/jcs/) > > The military Service Chiefs are often said to “wear two hats.” As members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, they offer advice to the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the NSC. As the chiefs of the Military Services, they are responsible to the Secretaries of their Military Departments for management of the Services. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-chain-of-command/165202/5 "2003-03-30T15:57:30Z")
Ah, interesting. I didn’t realize each service had its own department within the DoD. So is it correct to say, then, that the Marine Corps is in the Department of the Navy, but not in The Navy? ---
**Author:** ![brianmelendez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/65b543/32.png) [@brianmelendez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianmelendez)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-chain-of-command/165202/6 "2003-03-30T16:20:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by friedo \* > \*\*Ah, interesting. I didn’t realize each service had its own department within the DoD. > > So is it correct to say, then, that the Marine Corps is in the Department of the Navy, but not in The Navy? \*\* Correct. Within the Department of Defense, which is an [executive department](http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/5/101.html), there are three subordinate [military departments](http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/5/102.html): the Department of the Army, Department of the Navy, and Department of the Air Force, each with its own subcabinet-level secretary. ---
**Author:** ![Mephisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@Mephisto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mephisto)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2003, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marine-chain-of-command/165202/7 "2003-03-30T16:33:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by friedo \* > \*\*I know that the Marines use the same ranks as the Army and the Air Force . . . . \*\* Not quite, at least among the enlisted ranks. [Here.](http://www.defenselink.mil/pubs/almanac/almanac/people/insignias/enlisted.html) And on preview I see that **brianmelendez** already said everything else I was going to say. All that typing I did for naught. _sigh_ 🙂