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various military departments work together in this
joint effort.
Under the National Security Act, each military
department and service must coordinate with the
others. Each is responsible for organizing,
training, equipping, and providing forces to fulfill
certain specific combat functions and for
administering and supporting these forces.
Our country must have the full use and
exploration of the weapons, techniques, and
capabilities of each department and service to
attain its national security objectives. Unified
commands and specified commands provide us
with the ability to combine our forces effectively.
UNIFIED COMMANDS
A unified command has a broad continuing
mission and is composed of significant com-
ponents of two or more services under a single
commander. A situation in which either or both
of the following criteria apply requires a unified
command:
1. A broad continuing mission exists that
requires significant forces of two or more
services and a single strategic direction.
2. Any combination of the following situa-
tions exists when significant forces of two
or more services are involved:
a. A large-scale operation requires positive
control and tactical execution by a large
and complex force
b. A large geographic area requires single
responsibility for effective coordination
of operations
c. Limited logistic resources require a
single point of command
The unified commands include the following:
U.S. European Command (USEUCOM)
U.S. Southern Command
(USSOUTHCOM)
U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM)
U.S. Atlantic Command (USLANTCOM)
U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM)
U.S. Transportation Command
(USTRANSCOM)
U.S. Special Operations Command
(USSOCOM)
U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM)
The authority (the President, Secretary of
Defense, etc.) establishing a unified command
appoints a unified commander. This authority
also determines the unified command’s structure
and assigns its forces, missions, and general
geographic area of responsibility.
The commander of a unified command has a
joint staff with members in key positions from
each service having component forces under the
unified command. The joint staff requires a
balance in the composition of the forces and
character of the operations. This balance ensures
an understanding by the commander of the
tactics, techniques, capabilities, needs, and
limitations of each component force.
Each component of a unified command is
normally commanded directly by an officer of
that component. Operational command by a
unified commander is usually exercised through
the service component commanders or through
the commanders of subordinate unified com-
mands. (A unified commander may establish
subordinate unified commands.) In exercising
operational command, a unified commander
regards the knowledge and responsibilities of
assigned service component commanders.
The responsibilities of the commander of a
unified command include the following:
Maintaining the security of the command
and protecting the United States, its
possessions, and its bases against attack or
a hostile outbreak
Carrying out assigned missions, tasks, and
responsibilities
Assigning tasks to and directing coordina-
tion among subordinate commands to
ensure unity of effort in the accomplish-
ment of assigned mission(s)
SPECIFIED COMMANDS
A specified command is a command with a
broad continuing mission. It is normally composed
of forces from only one service but may include
units and staff representation from other services.
The authority that establishes a specified
command appoints the specified commander and
the force structure. This authority also assigns the
missions and defines the commander’s general
geographic area of responsibility.
Units of other services assigned to a specified
command normally are told the purpose and
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