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

CHAPTER IV
JOINT COMMAND ORGANIZATIONS
“…success rests in the vision, the leadership, the skill and the judgment of the
professionals making up command and staff groups…”
1. General
SECTION A. ESTABLISHING UNIFIED AND
SUBORDINATE JOINT COMMANDS
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Crusade in Europe, 1948
Joint forces are established at three levels: unified CCMDs, subordinate unified
commands, and JTFs.
a. Authority to Establish. In accordance with the National Security Act of 1947 and
Title 10, USC, and as described in the UCP, CCMDs are established by the President,
through SecDef, with the advice and assistance of the CJCS. Commanders of unified
CCMDs may establish subordinate unified commands when so authorized by SecDef
through the CJCS. JTFs can be established by SecDef, a CCDR, subordinate unified
commander, or an existing JTF commander.
b. Basis for Establishing Joint Forces. Joint forces can be established on either a
geographic area or functional basis.
(1) Geographic Area. Establishing a joint force on a geographic area basis is the
most common method to assign responsibility for continuing operations. The title of the
areas and their delineation are prescribed in the establishing directive. Note: Only GCCs are
assigned AORs. GCCs normally assign subordinate commanders an operational area from
within their assigned AOR.
For further information on operational areas, refer to JP 3-0, Joint Operations.
(a) The UCP contains descriptions of the geographic boundaries assigned to
GCCs. These geographic AORs do not restrict accomplishment of assigned missions;
CCDRs may operate forces wherever required to accomplish their missions. The UCP
provides that, unless otherwise directed by SecDef, when significant operations overlap the
boundaries of two GCCs’ AORs, a JTF will be formed. Command of this JTF will be
determined by SecDef and forces transferred to the JTF commander through a CCDR,
including delegation of appropriate command authority over those forces.
(b) Each GCC and subordinate JFC will be kept apprised of the presence,
mission, movement, and duration of stay of transient forces within the operational area. The
subordinate JFC also will be apprised of the command channels under which these transient
forces will function. The authority directing movement or permanent location of transient
forces is responsible for providing this information.
IV-1