JP 1, Doctrine for the Armed Forces of the United States - Defense ...

Doctrine Governing Unified Direction of Armed Forces
c. The Armed Forces of the United States are most effective when employed as a joint
force. This “comprehensive approach” involving all participating organizations, both
military and nonmilitary, within an operational area requires the JFC to understand the
capabilities, limitations, and mandates of those organizations involved and to effectively
communicate the mission of the joint force. The basic doctrinal foundations for joint
functions at all levels are outlined in this chapter.
7. Combatant Commands
a. The President, through SecDef and with the advice and assistance of the CJCS,
establishes combatant (unified) commands for the performance of military missions and
prescribes the force structure of such commands.
b. The CJCS assists the President and SecDef in performing their command functions.
The CJCS transmits to the commanders of the CCMDs the orders given by the President or
SecDef and, as directed by SecDef, oversees the activities of those commands. Orders
issued by the President or SecDef normally are conveyed by the CJCS under the authority
and direction of SecDef. Reports from CCDRs normally will be submitted through CJCS,
who forwards them to SecDef and acts as the spokesman for the commanders of the CCMDs.
c. CCDRs exercise COCOM of assigned forces. The CCDR may delegate operational
control (OPCON), tactical control (TACON), or establish support command relationships of
assigned forces. Unless otherwise directed by the President or SecDef, COCOM may not be
delegated. During deliberate planning, generic forces are apportioned to specific plans
according to Global Force Management procedures. This requires supported CCDRs to
coordinate with the supporting CCDRs and Services on required capabilities during planning
and on mission criteria for specific units once they have been allocated.
8. Military Departments, Services, Forces, Combat Support Agencies, and National
Guard Bureau
a. The authority vested in the Secretaries of the Military Departments in the
performance of their role to organize, train, equip, and provide forces runs from the President
through SecDef to the Secretaries. Then, to the degree established by the Secretaries or
specified in law, this authority runs through the Service Chiefs to the Service component
commanders assigned to the CCDRs and to the commanders of forces not assigned to the
CCDRs. ADCON provides for the preparation of military forces and their administration
and support, unless such responsibilities are specifically assigned by SecDef to another DOD
component.
b. The Secretaries of the Military Departments are responsible for the administration
and support of Service forces. They fulfill their responsibilities by exercising ADCON
through the Service Chiefs. Service Chiefs have ADCON for all forces of their Service. The
responsibilities and authority exercised by the Secretaries of the Military Departments are
subject by law to the authority provided to the CCDRs in their exercise of COCOM.
c. Each of the Secretaries of the Military Departments, coordinating as appropriate with
the other Military Department Secretaries and with the CCDRs, has the responsibility for
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