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

Chapter IV
(a) The CJCS.
(b) The appropriate operational commanders.
(c) The Service Chief of the forces concerned.
(2) The authority to assume OPCON of forces in the event of a major emergency
will not be delegated.
(3) Unusual circumstances in wartime, emergencies, or crises (such as a terrorist
incident) may require a GCC to directly exercise COCOM through a shortened chain of
command to forces assigned for the purpose of resolving the crisis. Additionally, the GCC
can assume COCOM, in the event of war or an emergency that prevents control through
normal channels, of security assistance organizations within the GCC’s general geographic
AOR, or as directed by SecDef. All commanders bypassed in such exceptional command
arrangements will be advised of directives issued to and reports sent from elements under
such arrangements. Such arrangements will be terminated as soon as practicable, consistent
with mission accomplishment.
f. GCC Authority for Force Protection Outside the US
(1) GCCs shall exercise authority for force protection over all DOD personnel
(including their dependents) assigned, attached, transiting through, or training in the GCC’s
AOR, except for those for whom the chief of mission retains security responsibility.
(2) Transient forces do not come under the authority of the GCC solely by their
movement across operational area boundaries, except when the GCC is exercising TACON
authority for force protection purposes or in the event of a major emergency as stated in
Paragraph 2.e.(1).
(3) This force protection authority enables GCCs to change, modify, prescribe, and
enforce force protection measures for covered forces.
For further detail concerning the force protection authority of the GCCs, refer to DODD
2000.12, DOD Antiterrorism (AT) Program, and JP 3-07.2, Antiterrorism.
g. GCC Authority for Exercise Purposes. Unless otherwise specified by SecDef, and
with the exception of the USNORTHCOM AOR, a GCC has TACON for exercise purposes
whenever forces not assigned to that CCDR undertake exercises in that GCC’s AOR.
TACON begins when the forces enter the AOR. In this context, TACON provides directive
authority over exercising forces for purposes relating to force protection and to that exercise
only; it does not authorize operational employment of those forces.
h. Assumption of Interim Command. In the temporary absence of a CCDR from the
command, interim command will pass to the deputy commander. If a deputy commander has
not been designated, interim command will pass to the next senior officer present for duty
who is eligible to exercise command, regardless of Service affiliation.
IV-8 JP 1