U.S. National Military Chain-of-Command

1 National Military Chain-of-Command PRESIDENT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE Secretaries of the Military Departments Commanders of Combatant Commands Chiefs of the Services One Chain-of-Command With Two Very Distinct Branches Operational Administrative chain OF command AND CONTROL PRESIDENT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE CJCS Military DEPARTMENTS UNIFIED COMMANDS FORCES (Not assigned to Combatant Commands) Joint Task force Functional Component Commands Service Component Commands Service Components Forces/ Capabilities Made available Subordinate Unified command Functional Component Commands Service Components Joint Task force Forces/ Capabilities Made available Service Components COCOM OPCON/TACON OPCON/TACON OPCON/TACON OPCON/TACON OPCON chain OF command AND CONTROL PRESIDENT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE CJCS Military DEPARTMENTS UNIFIED COMMANDS FORCES (Not assigned to Combatant Commands)

2 Joint Task force Functional Component Commands Service Component Commands Service Components Forces/ Capabilities Made available Subordinate Unified command Functional Component Commands Service Components Joint Task force Forces/ Capabilities Made available Service Components COCOM OPCON/TACON OPCON/TACON OPCON/TACON OPCON/TACON OPCON President Vice President Secretary of State Secretary of Defense NSC Advisors DAF Secretary Navy DON Secretary Army USA DA CSA Operational Responsibilities Support Responsibilities l Combatant command l Directive Authority l Operation Planning l Strategic Direction l Military Advice USMC CMC USN CNO USAF CSAF JCS Joint Staff Chairman, JCS Vice Chairman, JCS Commander Commander Subunified Subunified command command Commander Commander Component Component command command Commander Commander Joint Task Joint Task force force Combatant Commander NSC l Organize l Train l Equip l Maintain l Assign l Support Organization for National Security Secretary Air force COCOM ADCON DCI NSA chain OF command AND CONTROL PRESIDENT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE CJCS Military DEPARTMENTS UNIFIED COMMANDS FORCES (Not assigned to Combatant Commands)

3 Joint Task force Functional Component Commands Service Component Commands Service Components Forces/ Capabilities Made available Subordinate Unified command Functional Component Commands Service Components Joint Task force Forces/ Capabilities Made available Service Components COCOM OPCON/TACON OPCON/TACON OPCON/TACON OPCON/TACON OPCON Chairman of the JCS Communications Secretary Secretary of of Defense Defense President President Regional Responsibilities Functional Responsibilities Southern command UNIFIED COMMANDS President Secretary of Defense European command Northern command Central command Pacific command SOUTHCOM PACOM CENTCOM EUCOM NORTHCOM Special Operations command Transportation command Joint Forces command Strategic command JFCOM SOCOM TRANSCOM STRATCOM Chairman of the JCS Communications Secretary Secretary of of Defense Defense President President Regional Responsibilities Functional Responsibilities Southern command UNIFIED COMMANDS President Secretary of Defense European command Northern command Central command Pacific command SOUTHCOM PACOM CENTCOM EUCOM NORTHCOM Special Operations command Transportation command Joint Forces command Strategic command JFCOM SOCOM TRANSCOM STRATCOM UNIFIED command PLAN (UCP)

4 Guidance to Unified Combatant Commanders Establishes missions, responsibilities, and force structure Delineates geographic area of responsibility (AOR) and/or functional responsibility for Unified Commanders FORCES FOR UNIFIED COMMANDS Memorandum Assigns forces to combatant commanders May identify constraints Department of Defense Joint Strategic Capabilities Plan (JSCP) Provides task and missions Apportions major combat forces Provides requirement (OPLAN, CONPLAN, TSCP) Apportions strategic lift Provides additional guidance Assumptions JSCP supplemental instructions command RELATIONSHIPS Budget and Planning, Programming and Budgeting System Input Assignment of subordinate commanders Relations with Department of Defense Agencies Convene courts-martial Directive authority for logistics Authoritative direction for all Military operations and joint training Organize and employ commands and forces Assign command functions to subordinates Establish plans and requirements for intelligence, surveillance.

5 And reconnaissance activities Suspend subordinate commanders from duty When Operational Control is delegated When Tactical Control is delegated When Support relationship is delegated Local direction and control of movements or maneuvers to accomplish mission Aid, assist, protect, or sustain another organization Combatant command ( command authority) (Unique to Combatant Commander) General Functions of a Combatant Commander Giving authoritative direction to subordinate commands and forces necessary to carry out missions assigned to the command , including authoritative direction over all aspects of Military operations, joint training and logistics. Prescribing the chain of command to the commands and forces within the command .

6 Organizing commands and forces within that command as necessary to carry out missions assigned to the command . Employing forces within that command as necessary to carry out missions assigned to the command . Assigning command functions to subordinate commanders. Coordinating and approving those aspects of administration, support (including control of resources and equipment, internal organization, and training,) and discipline necessary to carry out missions assigned to the command . Exercising the authority with respect to selecting subordinate commanders, selecting combatant command staff, suspending subordinates, and convening courts-martial as delineated in Title 10, US Code, Section 164.

7 General Functions of a Combatant Commander Giving authoritative direction to subordinate commands and forces necessary to carry out missions assigned to the command , including authoritative direction over all aspects of Military operations, joint training and logistics. Prescribing the chain of command to the commands and forces within the command . Organizing commands and forces within that command as necessary to carry out missions assigned to the command . Employing forces within that command as necessary to carry out missions assigned to the command . Assigning command functions to subordinate commanders. Coordinating and approving those aspects of administration, support (including control of resources and equipment, internal organization, and training,) and discipline necessary to carry out missions assigned to the command .

8 Exercising the authority with respect to selecting subordinate commanders, selecting combatant command staff, suspending subordinates, and convening courts-martial as delineated in Title 10, US Code, Section 164. Giving authoritative direction to subordinate commands and forces necessary to carry out missions assigned to the command , including authoritative direction over all aspects of Military operations, joint training and logistics. General Functions of a Combatant Commander Giving authoritative direction to subordinate commands and forces necessary to carry out missions assigned to the command , including authoritative direction over all aspects of Military operations, joint training and logistics.

9 Prescribing the chain of command to the commands and forces within the command . Organizing commands and forces within that command as necessary to carry out missions assigned to the command . Employing forces within that command as necessary to carry out missions assigned to the command . Assigning command functions to subordinate commanders. Coordinating and approving those aspects of administration, support (including control of resources and equipment, internal organization, and training,) and discipline necessary to carry out missions assigned to the command . Exercising the authority with respect to selecting subordinate commanders, selecting combatant command staff, suspending subordinates, and convening courts-martial as delineated in Title 10, US Code, Section 164.

10 Prescribing the chain of command to the commands and forces within the command . General Functions of a Combatant Commander Giving authoritative direction to subordinate commands and forces necessary to carry out missions assigned to the command , including authoritative direction over all aspects of Military operations, joint training and logistics. Prescribing the chain of command to the commands and forces within the command . Organizing commands and forces within that command as necessary to carry out missions assigned to the command . Employing forces within that command as necessary to carry out missions assigned to the command . Assigning command functions to subordinate commanders.