of Defense shall establish, by regulations approved by the President, policies and procedures for such transfers and appointments. No officer transferred pursuant to this authority shall be assigned precedence or relative rank higher than that which he held on the day prior to such transfer."

National Guard Bureau. Sec. 12. Section 3015 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by redesignating subsections "(a)", "(b)", and "(c)" as subsections "(b)", "(c)" and "(d)", respectively, and by inserting a new subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) There is a National Guard Bureau, which is a Joint Bureau of the Department of the Army and the Department of the Air Force, headed by a chief who is the adviser to the Army Chief of Staff and the Air Force Chief of Staff on National Guard matters. The National Guard bureau is the channel of communication between the departments concerned and the several States, Territories, Puerto Rico, the Canal Zone, and the District of Columbia on all matters pertaining to the National Guard, the Army National Guard of the United States, and the Air National Guard of the United States."

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE. The Office of the Secretary of Defense includes the followingThe Secretary of Defense.

The Deputy Secretary of Defense.
The Armed Forces Policy Council.

The Joint Secretaries.

dent in all matters relating to the Department of Defense. Under the direction of the President, and subject to the provisions of the National Security Act of 1947, as amended, and Reorganization Plan 6 of 1953, and especially the Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1958 he exercises direction, authority, and control over the Department of Defense. He serves as a member of the National Security Council, the Defense Mobilization Board, and the North Atlantic Council.

THE DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE. He is responsible for the supervision and coordination of the activities of the Department of Defense as directed by the Secretary. He acts for, and exercises the powers of, the Secretary during his absence or disability. He serves as the Defense member on the Operations Coordinating Board and represents the Secretary with such other governmental and international groups as determined by the Secretary.

THE ARMED FORCES POLICY COUNCIL. This agency advises the Secretary of Defense on matters of broad policy relating to the Armed Forces and considers and reports on such other matters as the Secretary may direct. The Council is composed of the Secretary of Defense as chairman; the Deputy Secretary of Defense; the Secretary of the Army; the Secretary of the Navy; the Secretary of the Air Force; the Director, Defense Research and Engineering; the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; the Chief of Staff, United States Army; the Chief of Naval Operations; and the Chief of Staff, United States Air Force. When Marine Corps matters are being considered, the Commandant of the Marine Corps sits as a coequal of the other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In addition, such other officials of the Department of Defense and other departments and agencies of the executive branch of the Government as may be designated by the Secretary of Defense are invited to attend appropriate meetings of the Council.

THE JOINT SECRETARIES. They advise the Secretary of Defense on matters of broad policy relating to the administration and operation of the De

partment of Defense, as well as such other matters as the Secretary may direct. The group is composed of the Secretary of Defense as chairman; the Deputy Secretary of Defense; the Secretary of the Army; the Secretary of the Navy; the Secretary of the Air Force; the Assistant Secretary of Defense (International Security Affairs); the Under Secretary of the Army, the Under Secretary of the Navy, and the Under Secretary of the Air Force.

THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF. They are the principal military advisers to the President, the National Security Council, and the Secretary of Defense. Subject to the authority and direction of the President and the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in addition to such other duties as the President and the Secretary may direct, (1) prepare strategic plans and provide for the strategic direction of the military forces, (2) prepare joint logistic plans and assign to the military services logistic responsibilities in accord

ance with such plans, (3) establish unified commands in strategic areas (for information on command and support. channels for unified and specified commands, see figure 15), (4) review major material and personnel requirements of the military forces in accordance with strategic and logistic plans, (5) formulate policies for the joint training of the military forces, (6) formulate policies for coordinating the military education of members of the military forces, and (7) provide the United States representation on the Military Staff Committee of the United Nations in accordance with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations. The Joint Chiefs of Staff consist of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; the Chief of Staff, United States Army; the Chief of Naval Operations; and the Chief of Staff, United States Air Force. The Commandant of the Marine Corps sits as a coequal of the other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff when they are considering Marine Corps matters. The Joint

Chiefs of Staff are assisted in the performance of their responsibilities by the Joint Staff and other Joint Chiefs of Staff agencies.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. While holding office, he takes precedence over all other officers of the Armed Services. He is presiding officer of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, provides agenda for their meetings, and informs the Secretary of Defense and the President, when appropriate, of those issues upon which agreement among the Joint Chiefs of Staff has not been reached. He manages the Joint Staff. As a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the chairman has a vote, which was authorized in the Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1958.

The Joint Staff. It is composed of not to exceed 400 officers, organized as shown in figure 16. It provides staff as

sistance to the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the discharge of their responsibilities.

For further details of the organization and duties of the Joint Staff, see "Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1958," and appropriate subheading, above.

Joint Chiefs of Staff Committees. The Joint Strategic Survey Committee, Joint Strategic Plans Committee, Joint Logistics Plans Committee, Joint Military Transportation Committee, Joint Munitions Allocation Committee, Joint Intelligence Committee, Joint Communications-Electronics Committee, Joint Advanced Study Committee, U.S. Military Cooperation Committee, and Joint Meteorological Committee advise the Joint Chiefs of Staff on matters within their purview and participate in the preparation of strategic and logistic plans.

17 Sep 1947-27 Mar 1949 28 Mar 1949-19 Sep 1950

21 Sep 1950-12 Sep 1951 17 Sep 1951-20 Jan 1953 28 Jan 1953-8 Oct 1957 9 Oct 1957

James V. Forrestal .Louis Johnson .George C. Marshall ....Robert A. Lovett ..Charles E. Wilson

..Neil H. McElroy

This is an independent agency under the President, which administers laws relating to the relief of, and other benefits provided by law for, former members of the military and naval forces. It is responsible for extending relief to veterans and dependents of deceased veterans who served in all wars, and to veterans and dependents of deceased veterans who served in the military establishments in time of peace, as provided for by various acts of Congress.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND. From the end of the Revolutionary War until 1921, there were several Government agencies engaged in administering the laws that governed veterans' affairs. The first of two principal consolidations occurred when the Veterans' Bureau was created on 9 August 1921 as an independent establishment by an act of Congress. This act abolished the Bureau of War Risk Insurance (created 2 September 1914) and conferred its powers and duties on the Veterans' Bureau; it

28 Apr 1921-1 Mar 1923
2 Mar 1923-15 Aug 1945
15 Aug 1945-31 Dec 1947
31 Dec 1947-30 Jun 1953
30 Jun 1953-22 Jul 1953
22 Jul 1953-20 Dec 1957
20 Dec 1957-

1 In

transferred to the Veterans' Bureau duties relating to vocational training of veterans conferred upon the Federal Board for Vocational Education by an act of Congress of 27 June 1918 known as the Vocational Rehabilitation Act; and it transferred certain hospitals, personnel, properties, etc., of the United States Public Health Service (created 16 July 1798) pertaining to the medical examination, care, and treatment of exservicemen.

The next consolidation of agencies rendering benefits to veterans and their dependents was made when the Veterans Administration was created on 21 July 1930. This merged in the Veterans Administration the United States Veterans' Bureau, the Bureau of Pensions, and the National Asylum for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers (created on 3 March 1865).

Since 1921 the following persons have headed the Veterans' Bureau or the Veterans Administration

. Col. Charles R. Forbes .Brig. Gen. Frank T. Hines ..Gen. Omar N. Bradley

. Maj. Gen. Carl R. Gray, Jr. .Mr. H. V. Sterling (acting) .Mr. Harvey V. Higley ....Mr. Sumner G. Whittier