Defence Staff (Spain) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Defence Staff
Estado Mayor de la Defensa
Seat of the EMAD, on Paseo de la Castellana (Madrid)
Active	1984–present
Country	Spain
Branch	Spanish Armed Forces
Type	Military staff
Role	Coordination of the joint actions of the three branches of the Armed Forces
Part of	Ministry of Defence
Headquarters	Madrid
Commanders
Current Chief	Admiral General Teodoro Esteban López Calderón
Insignia
Coat of Arms

The Defence Staff (also known as EMAD, from its Spanish name Estado Mayor de la Defensa) is a very important part of the Ministry of Defence in Spain. It's based in Madrid. Think of it as the main helper and advisor to the Chief of the Defence Staff (JEMAD), who is the top military leader in the Spanish Armed Forces. The EMAD works closely with the JEMAD to make sure Spain's military is strong and ready.

What the Defence Staff Does

The Defence Staff helps the Chief of the Defence Staff (JEMAD) with many important tasks. Their main goals are to:

• Support the JEMAD in leading the military.
• Create plans for how the military will act in different situations.
• Design and manage military operations, both inside Spain and with other countries.

The EMAD follows rules set by Spanish laws, like the National Defence Law. It makes sure that all parts of the Spanish Armed Forces (the Army, Navy, and Air Force) work together smoothly.

Key Parts of the Defence Staff

The Defence Staff has several important groups that help it do its job:

• The Joint Defence Staff: This group helps plan and coordinate actions involving all parts of the military.
• The Operations Command: This part is in charge of directing military operations.
• The Spanish Armed Forces Intelligence Center: This center gathers and analyzes important information for national security.
• The Joint Cyberspace Command: This group protects Spain from cyber attacks and handles military actions in cyberspace.
• The General Headquarters of the Defence Staff: This is like the main office that manages daily tasks. It includes:
  • The Permanent Secretariat of the Council of Chiefs of Staff: Helps coordinate the leaders of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
  • The Secretariat of the Chief of Defence Staff: Supports the JEMAD directly.
  • The Head of Economic Affairs: Manages the money and resources for the Defence Staff.
  • The Human Resources Headquarters: Takes care of the people working in the Defence Staff.
  • The Security and Services Headquarters: Ensures safety and provides services for the staff.

Working Together

The Defence Staff also helps the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence. It leads the military structure and directs military operations. It plans how the Spanish Armed Forces will work together and how they will participate in international missions. The EMAD also makes sure the leaders of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force are all working towards the same goals.

See also

In Spanish: Estado Mayor de la Defensa (España) para niños

• Chief of the Defence Staff (Spain)
• Spanish Armed Forces
• Board of Joint Chiefs of Staff