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

Doctrine Governing Unified Direction of Armed Forces
b. Functions are the appropriate assigned duties, responsibilities, missions, or tasks of
an individual, office, or organization. As defined in the National Security Act of 1947, as
amended, the term “function” includes functions, powers, and duties (Title 50, USC, Section
410[a]).
For further information on functions, refer to Chapter I, “Theory and Foundations,”
Paragraph 7, “Task, Function, and Mission,” and “Chapter III, “Functions of the
Department of Defense and Its Major Components.”
5. Chain of Command
The President and SecDef exercise authority, direction, and control of the Armed Forces
through two distinct branches of the chain of C2 (see Figure II-3). One branch runs from the
President, through SecDef, to the CCDRs for missions and forces assigned to their
commands. For purposes other than the operational direction of the CCMDs, the chain of
command runs from the President to SecDef to the Secretaries of the Military Departments
and, as prescribed by the Secretaries, to the commanders of Military Service forces. The
Military Departments, organized separately, operate under the authority, direction, and
control of the Secretary of that Military Department. The Secretaries of the Military
Departments may exercise administrative control (ADCON) over Service forces through
their respective Service Chiefs and Service commanders. The Service Chiefs, except as
otherwise prescribed by law, perform their duties under the authority, direction, and control
of the Secretaries of the respective Military Departments to whom they are directly
responsible.
a. The CCDRs exercise COCOM over assigned forces and are directly responsible to the
President and SecDef for the performance of assigned missions and the preparedness of their
commands. CCDRs prescribe the chain of command within their CCMDs and designate the
appropriate command authority to be exercised by subordinate commanders.
b. The Secretaries of the Military Departments operate under the authority, direction,
and control of SecDef. This branch of the chain of command is responsible for ADCON
over all military forces within the respective Service not assigned to CCDRs (i.e., those
defined in the Global Force Management Implementation Guidance [GFMIG] as
“unassigned forces”). This branch is separate and distinct from the branch of the chain of
command that exists within a CCMD.
6. Unified Command Plan
a. The President, through the UCP, establishes CCMDs. Commanders of unified
CCMDs may establish subordinate unified commands when so authorized by SecDef.
SecDef, CCDR, a subordinate unified commander, or an existing JTF commander may
establish JTFs.
b. CCDRs have responsibility for an AOR or a function (e.g., SO) assigned through the
UCP. FCCs support (or can be supported by) GCCs or may conduct assigned missions in
accordance with the UCP independently.
II-9