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AFH 1 · Chapter 5 · Section 5.8

Combatant Command Organization

Part of Military Organization and Command · 3 sections · ~1184 words · WAPS PFE study material

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Combatant Command Organization — Foundation and Geographic CCMDs Overview

Foundation

11 CCMDs Total
There are currently 11 CCMDs. They are established by missions and responsibilities based on either:
  • A geographic area of responsibility (AOR)
  • A function

Geographic CCMDs

Geographic CCMDs Definition
CCDRs with an AOR:
  • Operate in clearly delineated physical and geographic boundaries established by the UCP
  • Have a distinctive regional military focus

6 Geographic CCMDs

6 Geographic CCMDs
Unified CCMDs with an AOR include:
  1. U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM)
  2. U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM)
  3. U.S. European Command (USEUCOM)
  4. U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM)
  5. U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM)
  6. U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM)

Functional CCMDs

Functional CCMDs Definition
CCMDs based solely on military functions WITHOUT respect to a specific geographic region are called functional commands.

Functional CCMD Operation

Functional CCMD Operation
These commands:
  • Operate globally across geographic boundaries
  • Provide unique capabilities to other CCDRs and the Services

5 Functional CCMDs

5 Functional CCMDs
The functional CCMDs include:
  1. U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)
  2. U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM)
  3. U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM)
  4. U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM)
  5. U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM)

Combatant Command Organization — Six Geographic CCMDs Detail

USAFRICOM

USAFRICOM HQ
United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM) headquarters is located at Kelley Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany.

USAFRICOM Responsibility

USAFRICOM Responsibility
USAFRICOM is responsible for military relations with:
  • African nations
  • The African Union
  • African regional security organizations

USAFRICOM Mission

USAFRICOM Mission
It protects and defends the interests of the United States by:
  • Strengthening the defense capabilities of African nations
  • In cooperation with African governments, conducting military missions that increase security while deterring and defeating a variety of transnational threats

USCENTCOM

USCENTCOM HQ
United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) headquarters is located at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.

USCENTCOM Responsibility

USCENTCOM Responsibility
USCENTCOM is responsible for operations in 20 countries that fall in the "central" area of the globe, to include:
  • Countries in the Middle East
  • Parts of Northern Africa
  • Central Asia

USCENTCOM Approach

USCENTCOM Approach
USCENTCOM utilizes national and international partnerships to:
  • Build cooperation among nations
  • Respond to crises
  • Deter and defeat threats
  • Support development that ultimately increases stability in the region

USEUCOM

USEUCOM HQ
United States European Command (USEUCOM) headquarters is located at Patch Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany.

USEUCOM Partners

USEUCOM Partners
USEUCOM works closely with:
  • Countries in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
  • Other partner nations

…to address the security and defense needs of nations in:

  • Europe
  • Parts of the Middle East
  • Eurasia

USEUCOM Coordination

USEUCOM Coordination
USEUCOM coordinates with these nations to:
  • Find cooperative solutions in peace and wartime alike
  • Plan training missions
  • Provide humanitarian assistance
  • Develop strategies for promoting peace and stability in the region

USNORTHCOM

USNORTHCOM HQ
United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) headquarters is located at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.

USNORTHCOM AOR

USNORTHCOM AOR
USNORTHCOM operates in the area of responsibility encompassing:
  • Continental United States
  • Alaska
  • Mexico
  • Canada
  • Portions of the Caribbean and surrounding waters

USNORTHCOM Mission

USNORTHCOM Mission
USNORTHCOM is primarily responsible for:
  • Civil support
  • Homeland security

NORAD Connection

NORAD Connection
The Commander of USNORTHCOM is designated as:
  • Commander of U.S. Element, North American Aerospace Defense (NORAD) Command
  • Commander of NORAD Command when a United States officer fulfills that role

USINDOPACOM

USINDOPACOM HQ
United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) headquarters is located at Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii.

USINDOPACOM AOR

USINDOPACOM AOR
USINDOPACOM oversees an area of responsibility stretching:
  • From the western shores of the United States
  • To the western border of India
  • From Antarctica to the Aleutian Islands

…encompassing 36 diverse nations.

USINDOPACOM Mission

USINDOPACOM Mission
USINDOPACOM and its partners work to:
  • Promote the development of the region
  • Enhance security
  • Deter aggression
  • Respond with force, when necessary
  • Provide humanitarian assistance associated with illicit trafficking
  • Conduct multinational military exercises designed to strengthen partnerships while developing collective capabilities

USSOUTHCOM

USSOUTHCOM HQ
United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) headquarters is located at Miami, Florida.

USSOUTHCOM AOR

USSOUTHCOM AOR
USSOUTHCOM oversees an area of responsibility encompassing 31 nations in:
  • Latin America south of Mexico
  • Central and South America
  • The Caribbean Sea

USSOUTHCOM Mission

USSOUTHCOM Mission
USSOUTHCOM works to increase the security of the United States by engaging its partners to:
  • Enhance the peacekeeping abilities of the region
  • Promote human rights
  • Deter illegal activities associated with illicit trafficking
  • Conduct multinational military exercises designed to strengthen partnerships while developing collective capabilities

Combatant Command Organization — Five Functional CCMDs Detail

USSOCOM

USSOCOM HQ
United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) headquarters is located at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.

USSOCOM Responsibility

USSOCOM Responsibility
USSOCOM is responsible for planning and conducting special operations.

USSOCOM Capabilities

USSOCOM Capabilities
It offers:
  • Direct action in the form of short duration strikes and small-scale offensives
  • Special reconnaissance
  • Unconventional warfare
  • Foreign internal defense
  • Civil affairs operations
  • Counterterrorism
  • Psychological operations
  • Information operations
  • Counter-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
  • Security force assistance
  • Counterinsurgency operations
  • Any specific activities directed by the U.S. President or the Secretary of Defense

USSTRATCOM

USSTRATCOM HQ
United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) headquarters is located at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.

USSTRATCOM Operations

USSTRATCOM Operations
USSTRATCOM conducts global operations in partnership with:
  • Other CCMDs
  • Services
  • U.S. Government agencies

…to deter and detect strategic attacks against the United States.

USSTRATCOM Responsibilities

USSTRATCOM Responsibilities
USSTRATCOM is responsible for command of:
  • Nuclear capabilities
  • Global strike
  • Joint electromagnetic spectrum operations analysis and targeting
  • Missile threat assessment

USCYBERCOM

USCYBERCOM HQ
United States Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) headquarters is located at Fort Meade, Maryland.

USCYBERCOM Mission

USCYBERCOM Mission
USCYBERCOM is responsible for achieving and maintaining cyberspace superiority in alignment with:
  • National Security Strategy
  • National Defense Strategy

…as a critical component of advancing national interests.

USTRANSCOM

USTRANSCOM HQ
United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) headquarters is located at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.

USTRANSCOM Mission

USTRANSCOM Mission
USTRANSCOM:
  • Conducts globally integrated mobility operations
  • Leads the broader Joint Deployment and Distribution Enterprise
  • Provides enabling capabilities in order to project and sustain the Joint Force in support of national objectives

USSPACECOM

USSPACECOM HQ
United States Space Command (USSPACECOM) headquarters is located at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.

USSPACECOM Mission

USSPACECOM Mission
USSPACECOM conducts operations in, from, and to space to:
  • Deter conflict
  • If necessary, defeat aggression
  • Deliver space combat power for the Joint/Combined Force
  • Defend U.S. vital interests with allies and partners

USSPACECOM Outcome

USSPACECOM Outcome
Ultimately, space combat power is how USSPACECOM ensures there is never a day without space.

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