JLA 1: 1986 Goldwater-Nichols Act accomplished which outcome?

• A. Reorganized the DoD, granted SECDEF sole authority over military ops, and established Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as primary mil advisor
• B. Created the United States Space Command
• C. Merged all intelligence agencies
• D. Created the Department of Homeland Security

Answer: (A)

The main idea tested here is how the Goldwater-Nichols Act reshaped how the military is commanded and advised. The act reorganized the Department of Defense to promote unity of effort across the services and strengthen civilian control. It placed operational authority over military forces with the Secretary of Defense, ensuring combatant commands report to the SecDef rather than directly to individual service chiefs. It also established the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as the principal military adviser to the President and to the Secretary of Defense, creating a single, unified channel for military advice. Additionally, it introduced requirements for joint duty and joint education to foster true interservice interoperability.

This combination—reorganizing DoD structure, clarifying who directs operations, and designating a clear senior military adviser—precisely captures what the act accomplished. The other options aren’t correct because this act did not create the United States Space Command, merge all intelligence agencies, or establish the Department of Homeland Security.