Chapter 2 Theater Organization Structure Theater commanders provide strategic and operational direction. They develop a theater strategy, organize their theaters, and establish command relationships for effective joint operations. Army commanders—particularly at the operational level-operate with other services, government agencies, and multinational forces, requiring a thorough understanding of the chain of command, theater organization, and the Army support structure as they contribute to the unified structure. Combatant commands (COCOMs) and theaters form the structure for this environment. THEATER ORGANIZATION The Unified Command Plan (UCP) contains Defense (SECDEF) to the combatant criteria for establishing a unified theater based commanders for missions and forces assigned on national security strategy, national military to their commands. The second flows from the strategy, geography, and history. However, a NCA to the secretaries of military departments key consideration for establishing a theater is to the chiefs of the service forces for execution its strategic objectives. Theater commanders of service functions. are charged with providing strategic direction Commanders of COCOMs are responsible and operational focus to subordinate to the NCA for the preparedness of their commanders. They develop a theater strategy commands and execution and accomplishment and campaign plans; organize their theaters; of assigned missions. The secretaries of establish command relationships for effective military departments are responsible for unified, joint, and multinational operations; organizing, training, equipping, and providing and conduct unified operations that ensure a forces. The authority exercised by the military united effort within the command. departments is subject by law to the authority Unity of effort requires that one responsible provided to the combatant commanders. commander focus resources toward obtaining defined objectives and strategic end states. This The DOD Reorganization Act placed the principle gives a single unified commander Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) within responsibility for all military operations within the chain of command to communicate the a designated theater-strategic environment NCA’s directions. Though the CJCS does not across the range of military operations. The exercise military command over any combatant NCA authorizes unity of effort among the forces, all communications between the NCA military services at the strategic level; it is and combatant commanders pass through the exercised through the CINCs, the service CJCS. Figure 2-1 depicts the chain of secretaries, and JCS. command. National Command Authorities THE CHAIN OF COMMAND The NCA, consisting of the President and The Goldwater-Nichols DOD the SECDEF or their authorized alternates, Reorganization Act of 1986 prescribes the chain exercise authority and control over the armed of command. Two distinct branches of the NCA forces through a single chain of command with exercise authority and control of the armed two distinct branches. One branch originates forces through the chain of command. The first with the NCA and continues through the CJCS flows from the President to the Secretary of directly to the combatant commanders for 2-1 Chapter 2 missions and forces assigned to their direction, and control of the NCA and oversees commands. The other, used for purposes other the activities of the combatant commanders as than operational direction of forces assigned to directed by the SECDEF. AH communications the COCOMs, flows from the NCA to the between the NCA and combatant commanders secretaries of the military departments. pass through the CJCS. Chairman Of The Joint Chiefs Of Staff Combatant Commands The Goldwater-Nichols DOD COCOMs are commands with a broad and Reorganization Act clarified the role of the continuing mission under a single commander. CJCS, establishing his primary authority and They are established and designated by the placing him in the decision-making process. President, through SECDEF, with the advice The CJCS functions under the authority, and assistance of the CJCS. COCOM 2-2 FM 100-16 commanders receive strategic direction from COCOMs (CINCs) by Title X, USC, Section the NCA through the SECDEF and the CJCS 164, or as directed by the President in the UCP. and are responsible to the NCA for the Not transferable, COCOM provides command performance and the preparedness of their authority and unity of command within the commands to execute assigned missions. theater. It allows the CINC to perform various functions, including organizing forces and Military Departments employing commands and forces, assigning The military departments operate under tasks, designating objectives, and the authority, direction, and control of the authoritatively directing all aspects of military SECDEF. Through the service chiefs, the operations, joint training, and support secretaries of the military departments necessary to accomplish the command’s exercise authority, direction, and control of assigned mission. During contingencies, their forces that are not assigned to combatant COCOM can be expanded to allow the commanders. This branch of the chain of combatant commander to reorganize service command is separate and distinct from the component forces as necessary and consolidate branch that exists within the COCOM. The CSS within the command. secretaries of the military departments are Combatant commanders exercise COCOM responsible for the administration and support authority by establishing command of their forces assigned or attached to relationships with subordinates and delegating COCOMs. They fulfill these responsibilities by appropriate authorities to their subordinates. exercising administrative control (ADCON) In accordance with Joint Pub O-2, the CINC has through the commanders of service component six options, including combining options, commands assigned to the COCOMs. Using through which he may exercise his COCOM ADCON, the ASCC is responsible for authority: preparing, maintaining, training, equipping, •The service component commander. administering, and supporting Army forces assigned to the COCOMs. The emphasis of the •The functional component commander. military departments is the administrative •The subordinate unified commander. (legal, personnel, finance) and logistical •The JTF commander. support to respective service forces. •A single-service force commander. •Direct command. COMMAND AUTHORITY See FM 100-7 for detailed discussions of the The commander’s authority must be above. Also see Figure 2-2.. commensurate with command responsibility. Under COCOM,CINCs may be given The Goldwater-Nichols DOD Reorganization directive authority for CSS. The exercise of Act of 1986 places clear responsibility on the this authority includes peacetime measures to CINCs of COCOMs to accomplish the missions ensure effective execution of approved assigned to their commands. Title X, United operations plans, effectiveness and economy of States Code (USC), vests CINCs with command operations, and prevention or elimination of authority called combatant command. Among unnecessarily duplicated facilities and the types of authority that may be granted to overlapping functions among the service operational commanders are operational component commands. For more detail on control (OPCON), tactical control (TACON), COCOM, refer to Joint Pub 0-2 and Joint and support. Coordinating authority, ADCON, Pub 3-0. and direct authority can be delegated to his subordinate commanders; however, this Operational Control authority is a consultation relationship, not a OPCON, which is inherent in COCOM, command relationship. may be exercised at any echelon at or below the level of the COCOM and is transferable. It is Combatant Command the authority to perform those functions of COCOM is command authority over command involving organizing and employing assigned forces granted only to commanders of commands and forces, assigning tasks, and 2-3 Chapter 2 providing authoritative direction necessary to Specific authorities and limits are defined in accomplish assigned missions. However, it does establishing directives. not include authority to direct logistics, administration, discipline, internal organization, or unit training. The CINC uses OPCON to delegate the most authority with The combatant CINC establishes support which subordinate commanders can direct all relationships between subordinate aspects of military operations. OPCON is commanders when one organization should normally exercised through the service aid, protect, complement, or sustain another. component commander. However, in war or The designation of supporting relationships MOOTW, a JTF commander with OPCON may conveys priorities to commanders and staffs control forces of one or more services. Unless who are planning or executing joint operations. another officer is so designated by competent Normally, a directive establishing the support authority, the service component commander is relationship is issued specifying its purpose, the senior officer of each service assigned to a the desired effect, and the scope of actions to be unified command and qualified for command taken. Unless otherwise stated in the directive, by regulation of the parent service. Assignment the supported commander has the authority to is subject to the CINC’s concurrence. direct the supporting effort. The establishing authority must ensure that both the supported Tactical Control and supporting