Combatant Command Structure
The controlling statutory basis is 10 U.S.C. §§ 161-165: commands are established under § 161, forces are assigned to them by the service Secretaries under § 162(a), the operational chain runs from the President to the Secretary of Defense to the combatant commander under § 162(b), the commander’s command functions are enumerated at § 164(c), and the parent military department remains responsible for administration and support under § 165(b), a two-chain design mapped at Title_10_Structure.
Command Relationship Types
| Relationship | Abbreviation | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Combatant Command | COCOM | Full authority; cannot be transferred |
| Operational Control | OPCON | Direct forces for specific missions |
| Tactical Control | TACON | Detailed direction of forces |
| Administrative Control | ADCON | Administrative/logistic authority (stays with Service) |
| Support | — | Establish support relationships between commands |
Force Flow
Services organize, train, equip forces → Assign to COCOMs → COCOMs employ through OPCON/TACON