) y RYZlgWm It is headquartered out of Kelley Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany. You can find the websites associated with the individual service branches and their social media It is headquartered out of Patch Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany. European Command, or USEUCOM, was established in August of 1952. In theory, these commands are a joint force, but they tend to take on . ?rn0|Tu xs7)q">")d ~Cbn.?DM>9QLuL,3Ly{k"Sgu"Ot RB~^~0 [27][28] USCYBERCOM was elevated on 4 May 2018. The relevant section of federal law, however, remains unchanged, and the President retains the power to establish a new specified command.[23]. It is headquartered out of Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii. This is the broadest command authority and may NOT be, 10) Command authority over assigned or attached forces or commands, or, military capability or forces made available for tasking, that is limited to the, detailed direction and control of movements or maneuvers within the, operational area necessary to accomplish missions or tasks assigned is, 11) The Joint Staff is under exclusive authority, direction, and control of the. 0000213861 00000 n 1501 42 Thats20 nationstotal, 22 ethnic groups, 18 languages (with hundreds of regional dialects). 0000002907 00000 n F Describe the tactical command post and the main command post along with the capabilities and limitations of each. Also known as a unified combatant command, or COCOM, these commands are the highest possible echelon of military command. articulates how DOD assigns responsibility for different missions and areas of the world.". %PDF-1.4 0000312513 00000 n Combatant Commanders' Area of Source: U.S. Department of Defense. These commands are established by combatant commanders when authorized by the Secretary of Defense through the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to conduct operations on a continuing basis in accordance with the criteria set forth for unified commands. hZmS7ZJ%\$3vP5]jYb3=^7`WM~S[6De Ih3> F|$|)h U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) The first seven of these are geographical combatant commands, each of which focuses on a geographic area of the world and has responsibility for U.S. military forces in that area. Who is the author of the Unified Command Plan? endstream endobj 593 0 obj <>stream Each COCOM exists as the ultimate in the field (as in not the White House and not the Pentagon) provider of command and control for all units from all service branches, anywhere on the planet (or above it), during peace, war, and contingency operations. _____ is the authority to perform those functions of command over subordinate forces involving, organizing and employing commands and forces, assigned tasks, designating objectives, and giving, authoritative direction necessary to accomplish the mission. [25], A sixth geographical unified command, United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM), was approved and established in 2007 for Africa. 0000070200 00000 n The United Nations is an international organization that promotes the idea of using diplomacy as a means of preventing war. Furthermore, the Secretaries of the Military Departments (i.e. 0000003807 00000 n 589 0 obj <>stream What is a combatant command? Pursuant to my authority as the Commander in Chief and under section 161 of title 10, United States Code, and in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I direct the establishment, consistent with United States law, of United States Space Command as a functional Unified Combatant Command. The new USSPACECOM will include "(1) all the general responsibilities of a Unified Combatant Command; (2) the space-related responsibilities previously assigned to the Commander, United States Strategic Command; and (3) the responsibilities of Joint Force Provider and Joint Force Trainer for Space Operations Forces". U.S. Africa Command was established on 1 October 2007 as a sub-unified command under U.S. European Command. Post Test - National Military Command Structure.pdf, Module 2 - National Military Command Structure - Post Test.docx, Post Test SEJPME II (Module 2 - National Military Command Structure).pdf, Where is Kambili he asked I looked down at my chest which was heaving now I did, Leadership Communication-C948- Task2.pptx, Block A of weight 20 N is at rest on a level floor A force F of 20 N is applied, The evolution of technology over the years has been very drastic.docx, Volunteer-and-Intern-Release-of-Liability.doc, 2 Application Layer 25 HTTP request message two types of HTTP messages request, Outbreak Reporting System or NORS this gives easy assessibility to information, 17 Please take the time to answer the following questions as candidly as, chemical compound that has been formed by the joining of two or more compounds, Global_Societal_Problem__Argument_and_Solution.docx.pdf, 74 JanuaryFebruary 2013 BPDSMs one analog quadrature up converter IQ modulator a, Cognition, Memory, and Information Processing.docx, AAAAAAA bbbbeeeeetttttttttttteeeeerrrrrr mmmmmoooooodddddeeeeelllll iiiiisssss, B A teacher C An architect 2 He would like to be an architect because A He wants, 30 Culture affects consumer behavior Theoretical reflections and an illustrative, One of natos goals is to promote democratic values, These commands are established by combatant commanders when authorized by the Secretary of Defense through the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to conduct operations on a continuing basis in. 0000057342 00000 n 0000017936 00000 n 0000291861 00000 n S!z^_GI"c: O&$:b69E8t. Register a Department of Defense or service branch website or social media site with Defense.gov. endstream endobj startxref They may be established on a geographic area basis such as U.S. They are formed on the basis of geography or function. These commands are established by combatant commanders when authorized by the Secretary of Defense through the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to conduct operations on a continuing basis in accordance with the criteria set forth for unified commands. 0000004484 00000 n Although slowly changing, the JPME requirement still continues to be frequently waived in the case of senior admirals nominated for these positions.[31]. After SHAEF was dissolved at the end of the war, the American forces were unified under a single command, the US Forces, European Theater (USFET), commanded by General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower. A. Combatant Command B. Northern Command, or USNORTHCOM, was established in October of 2002. The Secretaries of the Military Departments thus exercise administrative control (ADCON)[32] rather than operational control (OPCONthe prerogative of the combatant commander) over their forces. boundaries and provide unique capabilities to geographic combatant commands and the services, while geographic cocoms operate in clearly delineated areas of Space Command, or USSPACECOM, was established in August of 2019. %%EOF Combatant commands divvy up responsibility based on geography or functionality, enabling cohesive, cross-domain military planning. Secretary of the Army, Secretary of the Navy, and the Secretary of the Air Force) are legally responsible to "organize, train and equip" combatant forces and, as directed by the Secretary of Defense, assign their forces for use by the combatant commands. [29] A previous unified combantant command for unified space operations was decommissioned in 2002. Functional cocoms operate worldwide across geographic U.S. Northern Command deters, detects and defeats threats to the United States, conducts security cooperation activities with allies and partners, and supports civil authorities. Combatant Commander A commander in chief of one of the unified or specified combatant commands established by the president. Each unified combatant command is led by a combatant commander (CCDR),[6] who is a four-star general or admiral. R3! ) h V4 BB(TzAx 3`V`1B4 h9 And that authority extends down to the subordinate commands that fall under each COCOM, so that all U.S. military forces across all branches of service are likewise aligned. 377 0 obj <>stream 0000002668 00000 n The Combatant commands are commands which are primarily authorized by the Secretary of Defense with approval from the President. 0000003374 00000 n endstream endobj 591 0 obj <>stream Combatant Command One of the unified or specified combatant commands established by the president. There are currently 11 cocoms: Military service has a long tradition in the United States. [33] They are created to conduct a portion of the mission or tasking of their parent geographic or functional command. There are currently eleven . 1501 0 obj <> endobj %PDF-1.6 % A sub-unified command, or, subordinate unified command, may be established by combatant commanders when authorized to do so by the Secretary of Defense or the president. 0x94`P iG05;ZJd`*|>]aMB|t>MJ1MCeli-9X._G*S[s/CLU@M]uXpDzw#H*OoCP}k&1NGZ`8bk#mccTpGYkspq?%3"[~ a1szA~0;,upn3~FPPbgn[M/oRd,OF-j3P7g v\Q $)LDcPP I>-~>"osYr#0,5M4X ;+H]te|# c;5MB4R0=7*eQpD2sY0eR%! Investigate the role of diplomacy in maintaining peace between nations. command authority and may NOT be delegated or transferred. Functional cocoms operate worldwide across geographic boundaries and provide unique capabilities to geographic combatant commands and the services, while geographic cocoms operate in clearly delineated areas of operation and have a distinctive regional military focus. 0000004918 00000 n `a,x?r+K$nBvMD3QUe=j7'$S}jY"WV! 0000175988 00000 n They ensure synergy for the command and control of the United States military forces. Although not part of the original plan, the Joint Chiefs of Staff also created specified commands that had broad and continuing missions but were composed of forces from only one service. 0000003453 00000 n Vice President Mike Pence announced on 18 December 2018 that President Donald Trump had issued a memorandum ordering the stand-up of a United States Space Command (USSPACECOM). Administrative Control C. Operational Control D. Support Course Hero is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university. The operational chain of command runs from the President to the Secretary of Defense to the combatant commanders of the combatant commands. Indo-Pacific Command, or USINDOPACOM, was established in January of 1947. Southern Command, or USSOUTHCOM, was established in June of 1963. Examples of current and former sub-unified commands are the Alaskan Command (ALCOM) under USNORTHCOM, the United States Forces Korea (USFK) under USINDOPACOM, and United States ForcesAfghanistan (USFOR-A) under USCENTCOM. Each of the 11 COCOMs is led by a four-star flag officer, who is known as the combatant commander, or CCDR. This article first appeared on Sandboxx News. This site is using cookies under cookie policy . b. Like the unified commands, the specified commands reported directly to the JCS instead of their respective service chiefs. Each combatant command (CCMD) is headed by a four-star general or admiral (the CCDR) recommended by the Secretary of Defense, nominated for appointment by the President of the United States, confirmed by the Senate and commissioned, at the President's order, by the Secretary of Defense. [17] This arrangement was formalized on 21 April 1948 as part of a policy paper titled the "Function of the Armed Forces and the Joint Chiefs of Staff" (informally known as the "Key West Agreement"). Depending upon the combatant commander, the Air Force [12] A unified command structure also existed to coordinate British and U.S. military forces operating under the Combined Chiefs of Staff, which was composed of the British Chiefs of Staff Committee and the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff. operation and have a distinctive regional military focus. /XObject <> training and operational responsibilities; and geographic areas of responsibility to combatant commands. Africa Command, or USAFRICOM, was established in October of 2008. The Unified Command Plan (UCP) and associated Combatant Commands (COCOMs) provide operational instructions and command and control to the Armed Forces and have a significant impact on how they are organized, trained, and resourcedareas over which Congress has The UCP exists to keep each COCOM aligned with overarching national policy objectives. [16], Under the original plan, each of the unified commands operated with one of the service chiefs (the Chief of Staff of the Army or Air Force, or the Chief of Naval Operations) serving as an executive agent representing the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The combatant commanders are entrusted with a specific type of nontransferable operational command authority over assigned forces, regardless of branch of service. [2] They are organized either on a geographical basis . [15] Known as the "Outline Command Plan," it would become the first in a series of Unified Command Plans. endstream endobj 594 0 obj <>stream Thats51 countriesand territories total. Giving authoritative direction to subordinate commands and forces 0000031226 00000 n 0000249165 00000 n The guidance in this publication is authoritative; as such, this doctrine will be Specifically, all operations above 100km above mean sea level. These commands are established by Combatant Commanders when authorized by the SecDef through the CJCS to conduct operations on a continuing basis in accordance with the criteria set forth for Unified Commands. U.S. Space Command conducts operations in, from, and to space to deter conflict, and if necessary, defeat aggression, deliver space combat power for the joint/combined force, and defend U.S.. hb```Klw@(1(|!+:1-+E?6IaW +p4d0t0tp4`TfgdgqHP?1itVV14pkL`x (I_@: K10e. 0000044660 00000 n 0000003048 00000 n Joint doctrine established in this publication applies to the Joint Staff, commanders of combatant commands, subordinate unified commands, joint task forces, subordinate components of these commands, the Services, and combat support agencies. @3{#qtV3&t5O/,? U.S. Strategic Command operates globally to deter and detect strategic attacks against the United States. [13], In the European Theater, Allied military forces fell under the command of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF). Secretary of Defense and the Commanders of Combatant Commands. 0000142289 00000 n U.S. Southern Command works with allies and partners across Central and South America to enhance peace, promote human rights, deter illegal activities and conduct multinational military exercises. Well go in order of appearance. Military SEJPME I Mod 2 - National Military Command Structure Shared Flashcard Set Details Title SEJPME I Mod 2 - National Military Command Structure Description SEJPME I Total Cards 17 Subject Military Level Intermediate Created 06/02/2020 Click here to study/print these flashcards . endstream endobj 590 0 obj <>stream A truly unified command for the Pacific War proved more difficult to organize as neither General of the Army Douglas MacArthur nor Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz was willing to be subordinate to the other, for reasons of interservice rivalry. What do they do? [22] These commands have not existed since the Strategic Air Command was disestablished in 1992. It seems a rather odd term for a command in the military an organization based around combat to be specifically labeled as a combatant command. Gen. Michel M. Russell Sr. is currently serving as the commanding general of the 1st Theater Sustainment Command operating at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and Camp Arifjan . 1542 0 obj <>stream But thats exactly what one of the highest levels of command in the military is called. Subsequently . \v+//l4kUXrkOM$^'4r-@> 0000000016 00000 n It is headquartered out of Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. A unified combatant command (UCC) is a United States Department of Defense command that is composed of forces from at least two Military Departments and has a broad and continuing mission. 0000001168 00000 n U.S. Transportation Command provides transportation capabilities for the military. hDeZiJ $=4UQqeQ4b8kX9@M@R )h%PpE:RRDD_,Phk6R**n{;pcHI(&$ANd+Ba.5Sj99s73>!auk;Z` .e Forces Japan or on a functional basis such as Special Operations Command . [2] Unified combatant commands are organized either on a geographical basis (known as an "area of responsibility", AOR) or on a functional basis, e.g. 149/3/1,441. 0000003691 00000 n The Panama Canal and the area around the canal also fall under this COCOMs responsibility, when it comes to defense. Thats36 nationstotal, more than half the worlds population, 3,200 different languages, and 5 out of the 7 total U.S. collective defense treaties. The current system of unified commands in the U.S. military emerged during World War II with the establishment of geographic theaters of operation composed of forces from multiple service branches that reported to a single commander who was supported by a joint staff. 0000096508 00000 n Currently, four geographic combatant commands have their headquarters located outside their geographic area of responsibility. In that case, OPCON is embodied in the Army Field Support Brigades (, TACON - tactical control of sustainment, for example as embodied in a Contracting Support Brigade, This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 06:54. Four types of command authority can be distinguished:[8][9]. }oa |6lF.^/vRQ6dbfynlP638!-n!']pgs_zgE Each combatant command (CCMD) is headed by a four-star general or admiral (the CCDR) recommended by the Secretary of Defense, nominated for appointment by the President of the United States, confirmed by the Senate and commissioned, at the President's order, by the Secretary of Defense. 0000144060 00000 n a. 0000165272 00000 n An official website of the United States Government, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. IF YOU CAN ANSWER THIS I WILL GIVE 20 POINTS AND MARK THE BRAINLIEST!!! A unified combatant command (CCMD), also referred to as a combatant command, is a joint military command of the United States Department of Defense that is composed of units from two or more service branches of the United States Armed Forces, and conducts broad and continuing missions. The combatant commanders head the combatant commands and are usually four-star Generals. Unified Command Plan (UCP): "The UCP is a classified executive branch document that U.S. Central Command builds cooperation among nations throughout the Middle East, responding to crises, deterring and defeating threats, and increasing regional stability. It established multi-Service combatant commands and assigned them geo- . 0 On 24 October 2002, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld announced that in accordance with Title 10 of the US Code (USC), the title of "Commander-in-Chief" would thereafter be reserved for the President, consistent with the terms of Article II of the United States Constitution. The International Criminal Court (ICC) was established to bring justice to those committing crimes against humanity, war crimes, or genocide. Far East Command and U.S. Northeast Command were disestablished under the Unified Command Plan of 19561957. This concludes the COCOM introduction and geographical COCOMs primer. Combatant Commanders exercise _____ (command authority)) over assigned forces. What Is a Combatant Command? (Approved for modification in the next edition of . The Defense Department has 11 combatant commands, each with a geographic or functional mission that provides command and control of military forces in peace and war. It operated under U.S. European Command as a sub-unified command during its first year, and transitioned to independent Unified Command Status in October 2008. i +l*\,&FSgg%!.+34{zGn[1CJ{6.+@3"?7h@-U`Q Q'=iUC5P>]G- Hz)]&rQ^tq;oOfGymm2OWIKbW6 rWsg:pj[Sex{iQX@OXW9RG+e,uY-LkmWA26'|B`0vs\1Z| ?6gn`[lbwnECB 1SJp|L}B9K8a8Ii\.+%RKY$6t[VDTh?mhIldXfA$ke, The Unified Command Plan is a classified executive branch document prepared by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staf that assigns missions; planning, It is headquartered out of Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. 0000109686 00000 n 0000270857 00000 n it is often time-consuming no one is in charge it can be cumbersome it is rarely effective. In terms of that above-mentioned area and/or scope of responsibility, the 11 COCOMs are divided into two types: geographical and functional. 0000003612 00000 n such as Special Operations Command, Pacific. upon whether or not there is an existing Air Force C2 structure in place. %PDF-1.6 % 2.8.5 Shape Stack answer 0000142221 00000 n Compare and contrast the features of these systems and assess their, The United States has utilized multiple forms of liberalism throughout its history. [citation needed] The original "Outline Command Plan" of 1946 established seven unified commands: Far East Command, Pacific Command, Alaskan Command, Northeast Command, the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Caribbean Command, and European Command. Thats 19 Central and South American nations, and 13 Caribbean nations, for a grand total of32 nations. U.S. Space Command conducts operations in, from, and to space to deter conflict, and if necessary, defeat aggression, deliver space combat power for the joint/combined force, and defend U.S.. [a] Each time the Unified Command Plan is updated, the organization of the combatant commands is reviewed for military efficiency and efficacy, as well as alignment with national policy.[4][5]. It is headquartered out of MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. If you reference the map in the feature image, you can see that this geographical commands area of responsibility, or AOR, includes all of the African continent except for Egypt, as well as the islands of Cape Verde, So Tom and Prncipe, Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, and the Seychelles. 7AT7dzbendstream endobj 4 0 obj 1016 endobj 5 0 obj 5744 endobj 6 0 obj <> stream In this article, well cover the seven geographical commands. You can find the websites associated with the individual service branches and their social media apps below. The subordinate unified command established by a Combatant Commander to plan, coordinate, conduct, and support joint special operations. Sign up here . Geographical means they are responsible for all operations, etc., within a clearly defined actual location on or above the Earth such as Africa or Space. Functional means they are responsible for a clearly definedspecific typeof operation, etc., but across all geographical and spatial lines for example, transport or special operations.. ]A|[N6recoHoC/EoVg4^y,(3;'"5ML>yNZ9$0e=BbC/LN$/~8w4 gcoq%eXjAU9z~N$*urj3mQgu:d"(xY23PT`|z@mzGl_C&~;! If you reference the map in the feature image, you can see that this geographical commands area of responsibility, or AOR, includes the Middle East, Egypt, Central Asia, and some countries in South Asia. View the full A-Z list of all Department of Defense and service branch websites and social media sites. Northcom's top priority is homeland defense. It stretches from the North Pole to Israel. The United States Defense Department has eleven (11) combatant commands which serve either a geographic or functional purpose. (Select all that apply.) 0000178157 00000 n They may be established on a geographic area basis such as U.S. sustainment. How many are there? \eMYi>:NSq&ecqhAA`;4twk#PP#}@$F]zqTgk>&0o,X1$$CjA>D/J{FOYtCr@dp~{x9z 0ZFHX/.dhwm9b{mDp8'(M$c.doqz} :n+qR. Although the aircraft are staged in the Middle East, the commander, AMC (AMC/CC), as the commander of Air Force forces, is responsible for securing these assets during mission execution. component to US Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), and has airlift assets forward deployed in the US Central Command AOR. Unified Combatant Commands. U.S. Department of Defense Combatant Commands consist of eleven unified commands with either a geographic or functional mission to provide command and control of military forces in peace and war.Reviewed and updated every two years by the JCS for official use only, the Unified Command Plan (UCP) assigns missions; planning, training, and operational responsibilities; and geographic areas of . Under GoldwaterNichols, the service chiefs (also four stars in rank) are charged with the responsibility of the "strategic direction, unified operation of combatant commands, and the integration of all land, naval, and air forces in an efficient "unified combatant command" force. Each COCOM commander answers directly to the Secretary of Defense. 6i;t5s7;DmoW Hi, can I have the question and answer for PSW Module 3, Hi I need the test questions for the PSW module 3 Body system and the PSW module 4 assisting with personal hygiene and if u have the test questions or exam for module 6, Can u provide me the PSW module 7 exam (question and answer) care planning,restorative care and reporting. The Combatant Commands Today A COCOM is a military command with broad continuing missions under a single commander and composed of significant assigned components of two or more military departments. If you reference the map in the feature image, you can see that this geographical commands area of responsibility, or AOR, includes well,outer space. An official website of the United States Government, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil, Joint Civilian Orientation Conference (JCOC), United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM), United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM). So this COCOM is by far the largest in terms of AOR. %PDF-1.5 % The UCP defines and authorizes things like each COCOMs area and/or scope of responsibility, as well as each commands mission. % [18] The responsibilities of the unified commands were further expanded on 7 September 1948 when the commanders' authority was extended to include the coordination of the administrative and logistical functions in addition to their combat responsibilities.[19]. 0000142803 00000 n hj@_e.! A few days later, the CNO renewed his suggestion for the establishment of a unified Atlantic Command. 362 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<841A3454073CAF418259A5683BFE5D44><23AD724864F1234F8A8DBA1923E10121>]/Index[340 38]/Info 339 0 R/Length 101/Prev 113999/Root 341 0 R/Size 378/Type/XRef/W[1 2 1]>>stream Copyright 2023 Center for the National Interest All Rights Reserved. It is headquartered out of Doral, Florida. 0 These commands are established by combatant commanders when authorized by the Secretary of Defense through the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to conduct operations on a continuing basis in accordance with the criteria set forth for unified commands. trailer The Unified Command Plan is a classified executive branch document prepared by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staf that assigns missions; planning, training and operational responsibilities; and geographic areas of responsibility to combatant commands. [14], The Joint Chiefs of Staff continued to advocate in favor of establishing permanent unified commands, and President Harry S. Truman approved the first plan on 14 December 1946. U.S. European Command works with NATO and partner nations to address security and defense in Europe and parts of the Middle East and Eurasia. In 2009, it focused on synchronizing hundreds of activities inherited from three regional commands that previously coordinated U.S. military relations in Africa.[26]. S!Q1^T)}jj\oaJ"2^4%022+#X$f37hNu14g.z_c6CyGa' N\wm~wUS0jc6] _:? There are seven geographical COCOMs and four functional ones. startxref apps below. If you reference the map in the feature image, you can see that this geographical commands area of responsibility, or AOR, includes all of Europe, all of Russia, and Greenland. It separated from U.S. European Command and was elevated to full unified command status on 1 October 2008. Also known as a unified combatant command, or COCOM, these commands are the highest possible echelon of military command and are overseen by whats called the Unified Command Plan, or UCP. Joint Force Commander A general term applied to a combatant commander, subunified commander, or JTF g_t&Rn Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean and the U.S. Air Force's Strategic Air Command. The first U.S. Space Command was originally established as a unified combatant command in. 0000003296 00000 n Thats53 nationstotal. Of note, USPACOM is now referred to as USINDOPACOM. Keep an eye out for the follow-up functional COCOM primer! Joint Forces Command was disbanded on 3 August 2011 and its components placed under the Joint Staff and other combatant commands. Also known as a unified combatant command, or COCOM, these commands are the highest possible echelon of military command. 8) These commands are established by combatant commanders when authorized by the Secretary of Defense through the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to conduct operations on a continuing basis in accordance with the criteria set forth for unified commands. President Donald Trump announced on 18 August 2017 that the United States Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) would be elevated to the status of a unified combatant command from a sub-unified command. Forces Japan or on a functional basis such as Special Operations Command, Pacific. The combatant commands have a broad and continuing purpose. administrative responsibilities for these combatant commands, which gave them a mechanism through which they could influence ongoing military operations.