ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Command systems in the United States Army

Okay kiddo, have you ever played a game of follow the leader? The United States Army is just like that, but instead of playing games, they have to do really important things like protect our country and help people around the world.

But in order to do that, everyone in the Army needs to know what to do and when to do it. That's where the command system comes in. Think of it like a giant instruction manual that tells everyone what to do in different situations.

At the very top of the command system is the commander-in-chief, who is the President of the United States. He tells the Army what their overall goals and missions are, like protecting our country from enemies.

Next come the top generals who make up the Joint Chiefs of Staff. They help the president come up with plans and strategies to achieve those goals.

Under them are the commanders of different groups of soldiers, like the Army's different divisions. These commanders make sure their soldiers know what their specific tasks are and how they fit into the bigger picture.

Then come the officers, like sergeants and lieutenants, who lead smaller groups of soldiers and make sure they carry out their tasks properly.

Finally, there are the soldiers themselves, who follow the orders given to them by their officers and do their best to complete their tasks.

So you see, the command system is like a big game of follow the leader, where everyone has an important role to play in helping the Army achieve its mission of protecting our country.