50 U.S.C. § 401 : US Code - Section 401: Congressional declaration of purpose

Search 50 U.S.C. § 401 : US Code - Section 401: Congressional declaration of purpose

In enacting this legislation, it is the intent of Congress to
provide a comprehensive program for the future security of the
United States; to provide for the establishment of integrated
policies and procedures for the departments, agencies, and
functions of the Government relating to the national security; to
provide a Department of Defense, including the three military
Departments of the Army, the Navy (including naval aviation and the
United States Marine Corps), and the Air Force under the direction,
authority, and control of the Secretary of Defense; to provide that
each military department shall be separately organized under its
own Secretary and shall function under the direction, authority,
and control of the Secretary of Defense; to provide for their
unified direction under civilian control of the Secretary of
Defense but not to merge these departments or services; to provide
for the establishment of unified or specified combatant commands,
and a clear and direct line of command to such commands; to
eliminate unnecessary duplication in the Department of Defense, and
particularly in the field of research and engineering by vesting
its overall direction and control in the Secretary of Defense; to
provide more effective, efficient, and economical administration in
the Department of Defense; to provide for the unified strategic
direction of the combatant forces, for their operation under
unified command, and for their integration into an efficient team
of land, naval, and air forces but not to establish a single Chief
of Staff over the armed forces nor an overall armed forces general
staff.