Indiana Gazette from Indiana, Pennsylvania • 8

Army, Marine and Air Force officers' ranks 2nd lieutenant gold 1st lieutenant silver Captain Major gold Lt. colonel silver Colonel Brigadier general Major general Lt. general General A few Army enlisted ranks Private Corporal Sergeant Our Department The president Article II of the Constitution gives the president the power to be the commander in chief of the armed forces. President Bush is our President Bush commander in chief. Department of Defense The Department of Defense OF is the part of the govern- ment that is in charge of the armed forces.

The president appoints a civilian secretary of defense to head the department. Dick Cheney is the secretary of defense. Mr. Cheney used to be a U.S. congressman from Wyoming before he took Dick Cheney over the job.

The Joint Chiefs A special group called the Joint Chiefs of Staff advises the president and the secretary of defense about military matters. It also passes down commands to military forces serving under it. The Joint Chiefs is made up of the head of the Army, Air Force, Navy operations and the Marine Corps. These are the top military officers who command their branch of the service. The chairman Over these officers is our country's top military commander.

His title is chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam 1991 Universal Press Syndicate of Defense Meet Gen. Powell The chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Gen. Colin Powell, age 54, was born in New York City. He graduated from City University of New York with a degree in geology.

Us He also has a master's Gen. Powell degree in business. He has been in the Army for more than 32 years. He is married and has three children. His hobby is fixing old cars.

Gen. Powell talks with a woman serving in the Army in Saudi Arabia. Women played an important role in this operation. Meet Gen. Schwarzkopf Sometimes the president appoints an officer to command forces assigned to certain missions.

Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf (swartz-koff) was the commander of Operation Desert Storm. Gen. Schwarzkopf The general graduated from West Point.

He later got a master's degree in mechanical engineering. He has been in the Army for more than 34 years. He has the nickname "Stormin' Norman." He is married and has three children. His hobbies include magic and classical music. He also enjoys the outdoors.

Some Sources: Navy Veterans officers' Administration, insignia Department of Defense and the individual branches of the armed Rear Admiral Admiral services. Ensign Lieutenant Commander Captain A few and Coast Guard ranks Seaman apprentice Petty officer 2nd class Chief petty officer A few Air Force ranks Airman Sergeant Master sergeant Some Marine ranks Private first class Corporal Gunnery sergeant.