ISSUE 182 : Jul/Aug - 2010 - Australian Defence Force Journal

• Strategic Command (STRATCOM), tasked with providing the command and control centrefor US strategic forces. It controls military space operations, computer network operations,information operations, strategic warning and intelligence assessments, as well as globalstrategic planning.• Joint Forces Command (JFCOM), responsible for transformation, experimentation, jointtraining, interoperability and force provision. 16The responsibilities assigned to the geographic and functional combatant commandersinclude:• Deterring attacks against the US, its territories, possessions and bases, and—whendirected—employing appropriate force should deterrence fail.• Carrying out assigned missions and tasks, and assigning tasks to and directing coordinationamong subordinate commands to ensure unified action in the accomplishment of assignedmissions.• Planning for and executing military operations as directed by the President or Secretary ofDefense (SECDEF) in support of the National Military Strategy.• Maintaining the security of and carrying out force protection responsibilities for thecommand, including assigned or attached commands, forces and assets.Geographic combatant commanders are also responsible within their areas of responsibility(AOR) 17 for a range of additional tasks including:• Planning and, when required, conducting the evacuation and protection of US citizens andother designated nationals, and reviewing emergency action plans within the AOR.• Providing US military representation to appropriate international and national agencies.• Providing assessments of security assistance programs, as well as coordinating regionalsecurity assistance matters with effected US diplomatic missions and carrying out associatedadvisory, planning and implementing responsibilities.• Commanding US forces conducting peace or humanitarian relief operations.• Providing the US DoD point of contact for countering the proliferation of weapons of massdestruction.• Exercising force protection responsibilities, and planning and conducting military securitycooperation activities. 18With such an extensive range of responsibilities, often involving high-level interactionwith representatives of foreign governments, the geographic combatant commanders notsurprisingly report directly to SECDEF and the President. 19 In many respects, they can beconsidered ambassadors in uniform as they seek to influence the security situation across their74