Inquiring About Military Direction within the Government

I'm currently taking a civics course, and we're learning about the roles of various branches of the American government. One point that's come up is who directs the military. Just wondering if anyone here could provide a clear answer: Which branch of our government is in charge of directing the military?

In the United States, the Executive branch of the government holds the responsibility for directing the military. This branch is led by the President, who serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

This structure is set up by the U.S. Constitution, which gives the President this power. While the President leads the military, it's essential to know that the decision to declare war lies with the Legislative branch, or Congress. This balance enables different parts of the government to have checks and balances on the use of military power.

As Commander-in-Chief, the President can order troops into action, but only Congress can formally declare war, as per Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. This distribution of powers is designed to ensure that the decision to involve the country in substantial military action is made collectively and thoughtfully, with the input of people's chosen representatives.

For day-to-day military operations, the Department of Defense, part of the Executive branch, carries out orders and creates policy. The Secretary of Defense heads the department and reports directly to the President. The military itself is composed of six branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and the recently established Space Force.

It's also worth mentioning that each state has National Guard units, which can be deployed by their respective state's governor, or federalized (put under control of the President instead of the governor) in certain situations.