The Chief of Staff of the US Army is the senior officer of which service?

• A. Army
• B. Navy
• C. Air Force
• D. Marines

Answer: (A)

This question hinges on how the U.S. military organizes its top leadership by service. Each branch has its own highest-ranking officer who leads that service and advises civilian leaders. The Chief of Staff of the Army is the Army’s senior uniformed officer, responsible for overall readiness, training, personnel, and operations within the Army, and for serving as the principal military adviser to the Secretary of the Army and the President. The Navy’s top officer is the Chief of Naval Operations, the Air Force’s is the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and the Marines are led by the Commandant of the Marine Corps. The overall senior-most military officer in the joint arena is the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who is selected from the service chiefs, but that role spans all services rather than belonging to one service.