Defence Forces Headquarters
The military element of the Department of Defence consists of
a Defence Forces Headquarters, which is headed by the Chief of
Staff. The Chief of Staff is directly responsible to the Minister for the
overall management of the Defence Forces, including responsibility
for the effectiveness, efficiency, military organisation and economy
of the Defence Forces. The Chief of Staff is the principal military
adviser to the Minister for Defence. Legislative provision enables
the Chief of Staff to delegate duties to the Deputy Chief of Staff
(Operations) and Deputy Chief of Staff (Support).
Military command is delegated by the Minister directly to the General Officers Commanding (GOCs) in each of the three territorial brigades (Eastern, Southern and Western), to the GOCs of the Defence Forces’ Training Centre and the Air Corps and to the Flag Officer Commanding the Naval Service.
Each of these officers
is responsible to the Minister for the exercise of the command
delegated to him. In practice, matters in relation to command are
channelled through the Chief of Staff. In effect, this means that
day-to-day operational control of the Defence Forces rests with the
Chief of Staff for which he is directly responsible to the Minister. Its primary functions within this role are: