Which chain administers through the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations to operating forces?

Which chain administers through the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations to operating forces?

• A. The Operational chain
• B. The Unified chain
• C. The Administrative chain
• D. The Fleet chain

Answer: (C)

Two chains of command govern how the Navy is organized: an administrative chain and an operational chain. The administrative chain handles ongoing leadership, policy, personnel, funding, and support—what keeps the forces ready and properly resourced. It runs from the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations down to the operating forces. The operational chain, on the other hand, is about directing missions and combat actions, from the President and the Secretary of Defense to the Combatant Commands and then to the forces executing the mission. The description “administers through the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations to operating forces” matches the administrative chain, which is why that option is the right fit. The other descriptions align with how forces are commanded in operations or with broader unified command structures, not the admin path.

Two chains of command govern how the Navy is organized: an administrative chain and an operational chain. The administrative chain handles ongoing leadership, policy, personnel, funding, and support—what keeps the forces ready and properly resourced. It runs from the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations down to the operating forces. The operational chain, on the other hand, is about directing missions and combat actions, from the President and the Secretary of Defense to the Combatant Commands and then to the forces executing the mission. The description “administers through the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations to operating forces” matches the administrative chain, which is why that option is the right fit. The other descriptions align with how forces are commanded in operations or with broader unified command structures, not the admin path.