The Secretariat of state for defence is the highest body of the department are, in addition to the powers under article 62 of law 40/2015, of 1 october, from The Legal Regime of the public Sector, the momentum and direction, policies and management of arms and material, research, development and industrial innovation, economic, infrastructure, environmental and systems, technologies and information security in the area of defence, as well as the momentum of the transformation process digital Department.

It will further contribute to the elaboration and implementation of the defence policy and to exercise the competences resulting in the planning of the Defence.

Develop and propose arrangements, recruitment, military education, professional development of military personnel and special reservists availability, health and cultural heritage.

Lead and coordinate the overall management of military personnel and management of the common corps of the armed forces and military personnel who is not affiliated with any of the armed forces or Armed groups.

Lead and coordinate the compensation policy.

Foster and coordinate the implementation of the legislative and regulatory framework.

Taking the lead role in planning and development of recruitment policy and general regime of military personnel.

Lead and coordinate social policy.

To maintain relations with the organs of the military jurisdiction in order to the provision of means and to the enforcement of judgments.

Manage the « Official Gazette of the ministry of defence ’.

Exercising the powers conferred on it by the regulations governing the structure on peripheral of the department.

Promote the equality policy.

Exercising the powers on the prevention of occupational risks that li atribueixin standards in the Area of the ministry of defence.

Promote the dissemination of the cultural heritage of the Defence.

Monitor the conduct of all functions related to the stud service of the armed forces.

Promote the administration digital, knowledge management and management by processes, in the area of the under secretary of defense.

Foster and coordinate the cultural policy of the Department.

Direct and coordinate the Archival System of defence, public library network of defence and the network of museums of defence.

Exercise in the area of the department, the functions of the current rules on Transparency and open government.

Coordinate the data protection policy, in accordance with the current regulations on the matter.

Oversee the coordination and follow-up of the activity on the evaluation of public policies in the field of the ministry of defence.

The presidency of the Superior council of Military Sport and the powers of the department in the areas of physical education and sport.

Move forward planning and strategic human resources in the organization of the ministry of defence.

Following up and evaluation of the international situation in the field of security and defence policy.

The guidelines propose defence policy.

The Plan of diplomacy of Defence.

Lead bilateral relations with states in the area of defence policy.

Direct participation of the ministry in international security and defence policy.

To lead the development of the treaties, agreements and conventions affecting the defence, in coordination with the ministry of foreign affairs, European Union and cooperation.

Coordinating the contribution of the department to state action to deal with crises and emergencies.

Planning the contribution to the civil emergency planning in the international security and defence policy.

Provide for the performance of the department in the field of arms control, non-proliferation and disarmament.

Propose and coordinate the cultural policy of security and defence and promotion of awareness of national defence.

Promoting institutional relationships.

Support the development of multilateral policies in the global commons ”, and in the fight against climate change, without prejudice to the competence of other Ministerial departments.