Commander in Chief

The president is official head of the US armed forces

The costitutitional role granted to the president as head of the United States' armed forces.

Under Article III of the constitution the president is given authority to lead "the army and the navy of the United States and of the militia of the several states when called into the actual service of the United States."

No president since James Madison in the War of 1812 has personally led troops into battle.