10 U.S.C. § 155 : US Code - Section 155: Joint Staff

Search 10 U.S.C. § 155 : US Code - Section 155: Joint Staff

(a) Appointment of Officers to Joint Staff. - (1) There is a
Joint Staff under the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The
Joint Staff assists the Chairman and, subject to the authority,
direction, and control of the Chairman, the other members of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff in carrying out their responsibilities.
(2) Officers of the armed forces (other than the Coast Guard)
assigned to serve on the Joint Staff shall be selected by the
Chairman in approximately equal numbers from -
(A) the Army;
(B) the Navy and the Marine Corps; and
(C) the Air Force.
(3) Selection of officers of an armed force to serve on the Joint
Staff shall be made by the Chairman from a list of officers
submitted by the Secretary of the military department having
jurisdiction over that armed force. Each officer whose name is
submitted shall be among those officers considered to be the most
outstanding officers of that armed force. The Chairman may specify
the number of officers to be included on any such list.
(b) Director. - The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, after
consultation with the other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
and with the approval of the Secretary of Defense, may select an
officer to serve as Director of the Joint Staff.
(c) Management of Joint Staff. - The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff manages the Joint Staff and the Director of the Joint
Staff. The Joint Staff shall perform such duties as the Chairman
prescribes and shall perform such duties under such procedures as
the Chairman prescribes.
(d) Operation of Joint Staff. - The Secretary of Defense shall
ensure that the Joint Staff is independently organized and operated
so that the Joint Staff supports the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff in meeting the congressional purpose set forth in the last
clause of section 2 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C.
401) to provide -
(1) for the unified strategic direction of the combatant
forces;
(2) for their operation under unified command; and
(3) for their integration into an efficient team of land,
naval, and air forces.
(e) Prohibition of Function as Armed Forces General Staff. - The
Joint Staff shall not operate or be organized as an overall Armed
Forces General Staff and shall have no executive authority. The
Joint Staff may be organized and may operate along conventional
staff lines.
(f) Tour of Duty of Joint Staff Officers. - (1) An officer who is
assigned or detailed to permanent duty on the Joint Staff may not
serve for a tour of duty of more than four years. However, such a
tour of duty may be extended with the approval of the Secretary of
Defense.
(2) In accordance with procedures established by the Secretary of
Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff may suspend from
duty and recommend the reassignment of any officer assigned to the
Joint Staff. Upon receipt of such a recommendation, the Secretary
concerned shall promptly reassign the officer.
(3) An officer completing a tour of duty with the Joint Staff may
not be assigned or detailed to permanent duty on the Joint Staff
within two years after relief from that duty except with the
approval of the Secretary.
(4) Paragraphs (1) and (3) do not apply -
(A) in time of war; or
(B) during a national emergency declared by the President or
Congress.
(g) Composition of Joint Staff. - (1) The Joint Staff is composed
of all members of the armed forces and civilian employees assigned
or detailed to permanent duty in the executive part of the
Department of Defense to perform the functions and duties
prescribed under subsections (a) and (c).
(2) The Joint Staff does not include members of the armed forces
or civilian employees assigned or detailed to permanent duty in a
military department.