Ownership of Military Branches?

I've been trying to learn more about how the military works, but am confused about 'ownership'. Who, or what entity, would be considered the 'owner' of a military branch? Because I recognize they're part of the government, but who exactly controls them in the bigger picture? Thanks in advance.

While the term "ownership" might not typically apply when discussing the military, each of the six branches of the U.S. military (Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space Force) fall under the oversight and control of specific entities within the federal government.

The U.S. military falls under the executive branch, with the President serving as the Commander-in-Chief. This places the President at the top of the military hierarchy. However, for day-to-day operations, each military branch has a civilian leader known as the Secretary (like the Secretary of the Army or the Secretary of the Navy), who is appointed by the President and approved by the Senate.

These Secretaries report to the Secretary of Defense, who is also a Presidential appointee approved by the Senate, and they oversee all aspects of their specific military branch. For policymaking and management, these branches also work with the Department of Defense, which is responsible for coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions related directly to national security and the U.S. armed forces.

The Coast Guard is a slight exception here. While it's a military service, it's also a branch of the Department of Homeland Security during peacetime. However, in times of war, it can be transferred to the Department of the Navy, which is under the Department of Defense.

The National Guard (both the Army and the Air Force components) has a unique dual-state and federal role. They are primarily controlled by their respective states but can be federalized for national missions at the President's discretion.

Essentially, while there is a complex and layered structure of leadership and control in the U.S. military, no one person, office, or entity "owns" a branch in the way a company might be owned. Instead, different levels of responsibility and oversight are shared among various parts of the government.