Flag of the Commandant of the Marine Corps
The Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) is the highest ranking officer in the United States Marine Corps and is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff 1. The CMC reports directly to the Secretary of the Navy but not to the Chief of Naval Operations. The CMC is responsible for ensuring the organization, policy, plans, and programs for the Marine Corps as well as advising the President, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Navy on matters involving the Marine Corps. Under the authority of the Secretary of the Navy, the CMC also designates Marine personnel and resources to the commanders of Unified Combatant Commands 2. The commandant also performs all other functions prescribed under 10 U.S.C. § 5043 or delegates those duties and responsibilities to other officers in his administration in his name. As with the other joint chiefs, the commandant is an administrative position and has no operational command authority over United States Marine forces.
The Commandant is nominated by the President and must be confirmed by majority vote from the Senate3. By statute, the commandant is appointed as a four-star general 3.
"The Commandant is directly responsible to the Secretary of the Navy for the total performance of the Marine Corps. This includes the administration, discipline, internal organization, training, requirements, efficiency, and readiness of the service. The Commandant also is responsible for the operation of the Marine Corps material support system."4
Since 1801, the home of the Commandant is located in Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C..
Responsibilities
The responsibilities of the Commandant are outlined in Title 10, Section 5043 the U.S. Code of Law:5
"Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Secretary of the Navy, the Commandant shall —
- preside over the Headquarters, Marine Corps;
- transmit the plans and recommendations of the Headquarters, Marine Corps, to the Secretary and advise the Secretary with regard to such plans and recommendations;
- after approval of the plans or recommendations of the Headquarters, Marine Corps, by the Secretary, act as the agent of the Secretary in carrying them into effect;
- exercise supervision, consistent with the authority assigned to commanders of unified or specified combatant commands under chapter 6 of this title, over such of the members and organizations of the Marine Corps and the Navy as the Secretary determines;
- perform the duties prescribed for him by section 171 of this title and other provisions of law;
- perform such other military duties, not otherwise assigned by law, as are assigned to him by the President, the Secretary of Defense, or the Secretary of the Navy.
List of Commandants
As of 2008, there have been thirty-four (34) Marine Corps Commandants:6
See also
References
- This article incorporates text in the public domain from the U.S. Government.
- ^ [1] 10 USC 151. Joint Chiefs of Staff: composition; functions
- ^ [2] 10 USC 165. Combatant commands: administration and support
- ^ a b [3] 10 USC 5043. Commandant of the Marine Corps
- ^ "Appendix A: How the Marines Are Organized", Marine Corps Concepts and Programs 2006. United States Marine Corps, page 252. Retrieved on 2007-05-06.
- ^ [4] 10 USC 5043. Commandant of the Marine Corps, United States Code.
- ^ "Commandants of the U.S. Marine Corps". Historical Topics: Frequently Requested. Reference Branch, History Division, United States Marine Corps. Retrieved on 2007-10-21.
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Commandants of the Marine Corps
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