Encyclopedia Britannica logo
ArticleMediaAdditional Info
Administrative Structure
The current administrative structure of the U.S. Army was established by the National Security Act of 1947 and amendments to it in 1949. The Department of the Army is organized as a military section of the Department of Defense. It is headed by the Office of the Secretary of the Army. The army staff gives advice and assistance to the secretary and administers civil functions, including the civil works program of the Corps of Engineers.
flag of the secretary of the U.S. Army
flag of the secretary of the U.S. Army
Flag of the secretary of the United States Army.
The army’s responsibilities are divided among 3 Army Commands (ACOM), 10 Army Service Component Commands (ASCC), and 13 Direct Reporting Units (DRU), all organized under the headquarters of the Department of the Army. The United States Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) is an ACOM that supervises Active Army and Army Reserve troops in the continental United States. Headquartered at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the command oversees the bulk of the army’s operational force. FORSCOM is also in charge of the training of units of the Army National Guard. Other responsibilities include the development of plans for mobilization. The United States Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) is an ACOM that directs combat training programs for forces of both the Active Army and the Army Reserve. It is headquartered at Fort Eustis, Virginia. The United States Army Materiel Command (AMC) is an ACOM in charge of the equipment used by the army. Its responsibilities include development, procurement, storage, delivery, and maintenance.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers opened the floodgates on the Bonnet Carre Spillway near New Orleans in May 2011 to manage the flow of the Mississippi River.
U.S. Geological Survey
The U.S. Army Cyber Command (USARCYBER) is an ACOM responsible for the electronic and information warfare and cybersecurity operations. The United States Army Medical Command (MEDCOM) is a DRU that provides health services for army personnel and supervises medical training and education. The United States Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) performs intelligence and security functions above the corps level. The Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC) is an ASCC that controls the movement of freight, personal property, and passengers for the Department of Defense. Another duty of the SDDC is the administration of highways for national defense. The United States Army Military District of Washington (MDW), which supports the activities of the army and of the Department of Defense, is the DRU primarily responsible for protecting the nation’s capital. Other duties include arranging state funerals and supervising military participation in ceremonies for foreign dignitaries.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/United-States-Army-Military-District-of-Washington