Vice Chief of the Defence Staff (Fatrea)
| Vice Chief of the Defence Staff | |
|---|---|
Incumbent Vacant | |
| Ministry of Defence | |
| Abbreviation | VCDS |
| Member of | Defence Council |
| Reports to | Chief of the Defence Staff |
| Nominator | Prime Minister |
| Appointer | Monarch |
| Term length | At His Majesty's Pleasure |
| Formation | 16 February 2024 |
| Unofficial names | Vice Chief of Defence |
The Vice Chief of the Defence Staff (VCDS), informally known as the Vice Chief of Defence, is the deputy to the Chief of the Defence Staff. They are the second-in-command and deputy professional head of the Armed Forces of Fatrea. The VCDS sits as a member of the defence council and is a senior advisor to the Government of Fatrea on military policy.
The office is currently vacant.
Responsibilities
The Vice Chief of the Defence Staff deputises for the Chief of the Defence Staff and has responsibility for overseeing business of the armed forces. The VCDS is responsible for things including:
- Deputising for the CDS
- Co-Ordinating and Implementing Top Level Decisions
- Future Development of the Armed Forces
- Training
- Preparation of the Armed Forces
- Conduct of Military Strategy
Appointment
Like the chief of defence, the VCDS is appointed by the monarch. This is done on the nomination of the prime minister. However, in practice - the incoming CDS nominates someone to become their vice chief and the prime minister relays that nomination to the monarch for approval.
The appointee is usually the same rank as the CDS but different branch, or the rank below the CDS and same branch.
History
The post of VCDS was created on 16 February 2024, with the foundation of the armed forces. It was established to act as an aid to the chief of defence, so there could be effective management of the armed forces.