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10 U.S.C. § 161 — Combatant commands: establishment
Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Unified and Specified Combatant Commands.—** With the advice and assistance of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the President, through the Secretary of Defense, shall—
(1) establish unified combatant commands and specified combatant commands to perform military missions; and
(2) prescribe the force structure of those commands.
**(b) Periodic Review.—**
(1) The Chairman periodically (and not less often than every two years) shall—
(A) review the missions, responsibilities (including geographic boundaries), and force structure of each combatant command; and
(B) recommend to the President, through the Secretary of Defense, any changes to such missions, responsibilities, and force structures as may be necessary.
(2) Except during time of hostilities or imminent threat of hostilities, the President shall—
(A) not more than 60 days after establishing a new combatant command—
(i) notify Congress of the establishment of such command; and
(ii) provide to Congress a briefing on the establishment of such command; and
(B) not more than 60 days after significantly revising the missions, responsibilities, or force structure of an existing combatant command—
(i) notify Congress of such revisions; and
(ii) provide to Congress a briefing on such revisions.
**(c) Definitions.—** In this chapter:
(1) The term “unified combatant command” means a military command which has broad, continuing missions and which is composed of forces from two or more military departments.
(2) The term “specified combatant command” means a military command which has broad, continuing missions and which is normally composed of forces from a single military department.
(3) The term “combatant command” means a unified combatant command or a specified combata
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Source location: Title 10, Chapter 6, § 161; chapter-006-combatant-commands.md
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**(a) Unified and Specified Combatant Commands.—** With the advice and assistance of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the President, through the Secretary of Defense, shall—
(1) establish unified combatant commands and specified combatant commands to perform military missions; and
(2) prescribe the force structure of those commands.
**(b) Periodic Review.—**
(1) The Chairman periodically (and not less often than every two years) shall—
(A) review the missions, responsibilities (including geographic boundaries), and force structure of each combatant command; and
(B) recommend to the President, through the Secretary of Defense, any changes to such missions, responsibilities, and force structures as may be necessary.
(2) Except during time of hostilities or imminent threat of hostilities, the President shall—
(A) not more than 60 days after establishing a new combatant command—
(i) notify Congress of the establishment of such command; and
(ii) provide to Congress a briefing on the establishment of such command; and
(B) not more than 60 days after significantly revising the missions, responsibilities, or force structure of an existing combatant command—
(i) notify Congress of such revisions; and
(ii) provide to Congress a briefing on such revisions.
**(c) Definitions.—** In this chapter:
(1) The term “unified combatant command” means a military command which has broad, continuing missions and which is composed of forces from two or more military departments.
(2) The term “specified combatant command” means a military command which has broad, continuing missions and which is normally composed of forces from a single military department.
(3) The term “combatant command” means a unified combatant command or a specified combatant command.
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
The President of the United States is authorized to designate and empower the head of any department or agency in the executive branch, or any official thereof who is required to be appointed by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to perform without approval, ratification, or other action by the President (1) any function which is vested in the President by law, or (2) any function which such officer is required or authorized by law to perform only with or subject to the approval, ratification, or other action of the President: Provided, That nothing contained herein shall relieve the President of his responsibility in office for the acts of any such head or other official designated by him to perform such functions. Such designation and authorization shall be in writing, shall be published in the Federal Register, shall be subject to such terms, conditions, and limitations as the President may deem advisable, and shall be revocable at any time by the President in whole or in part.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 3 U.S.C. § 301
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Planning; Advice; Policy Formulation.—** Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the President and the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall be responsible for the following:
(1) **Strategic direction.—** — Assisting the President and the Secretary in providing for the strategic direction of the armed forces.
(2) **Strategic and contingency planning.—** — In matters relating to strategic and contingency planning—
(A) developing strategic frameworks and preparing strategic plans, as required, to guide the use and employment of military force and related activities across all geographic regions and military functions and domains, and to sustain military efforts over different durations of time, as necessary;
(B) advising the Secretary on the production of the national defense strategy required by [section 113(g) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section113/g&num=0&edition=prelim) and the national security strategy required by section 108 of the National Security Act of 1947 ([50 U.S.C. 3043](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title50-section3043&num=0&edition=prelim));
(C) preparing military analysis, options, and plans, as the Chairman considers appropriate, to recommend to the President and the Secretary;
(D) providing for the preparation and review of contingency plans which conform to policy guidance from the President and the Secretary; and
(E) preparing joint logistic and mobility plans to support national defense strategies and recommending the assignment of responsibilities to the armed forces in accordance with such plans.
(3) **Global military integration.—** — In matters relating to global military strategic and operati
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 10 U.S.C. § 153
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Assignment as Combatant Commander.—**
(1) The President may assign an officer to serve as the commander of a unified or specified combatant command only if the officer—
(A) has the joint specialty under [section 661 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section661&num=0&edition=prelim); and
(B) has completed a full tour of duty in a joint duty assignment (as defined in [section 664(d) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section664/d&num=0&edition=prelim)) as a general or flag officer.
(2) The President may waive paragraph (1) in the case of an officer if the President determines that such action is necessary in the national interest.
(3)
(A) If the President removes an officer assigned under paragraph (1) to serve as the commander of a unified or specified combatant command or transfers that officer to another position or location before the expected end of the officer’s service as a combatant commander, the President shall, not later than five days after the removal or transfer takes effect, submit to Congress, including the congressional defense committees, notice that the officer is being removed or transferred and a statement of the reason for the removal or transfer.
(B) Nothing in this paragraph prohibits a personnel action authorized by another provision of law.
**(b) Responsibilities of Combatant Commanders.—**
(1) The commander of a combatant command is responsible to the President and to the Secretary of Defense for the performance of missions assigned to that command by the President or by the Secretary with the approval of the President.
(2) Subject to the direction of the President, the commander of a combatant command—
(A) performs his d
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 10 U.S.C. § 164
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Establishment.—** With the advice and assistance of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the President, through the Secretary of Defense, shall establish under [section 161 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section161&num=0&edition=prelim) a unified combatant command for special operations forces (hereinafter in this section referred to as the “special operations command”). The principal function of the command is to prepare special operations forces to carry out assigned missions.
**(b) Assignment of Forces.—** Unless otherwise directed by the Secretary of Defense, all active and reserve special operations forces of the armed forces stationed in the United States shall be assigned to the special operations command.
**(c) Grade of Commander.—** The commander of the special operations command shall hold the grade of general or, in the case of an officer of the Navy, admiral while serving in that position, without vacating his permanent grade. The commander of such command shall be appointed to that grade by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, for service in that position.
**(d) Command of Activity or Mission.—**
(1) Unless otherwise directed by the President or the Secretary of Defense, a special operations activity or mission shall be conducted under the command of the commander of the unified combatant command in whose geographic area the activity or mission is to be conducted.
(2) The commander of the special operations command shall exercise command of a selected special operations mission if directed to do so by the President or the Secretary of Defense.
**(e) Authority of Combatant Commander.—**
(1) In addition to the authority prescribed in [section 164(c) of this tit
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 10 U.S.C. § 167
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Establishment.—**
(1) With the advice and assistance of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the President, through the Secretary of Defense, shall establish under [section 161 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section161&num=0&edition=prelim) a unified combatant command for cyber operations forces (hereinafter in this section referred to as the “United States Cyber Command”).
(2) The principal mission of the United States Cyber Command is to direct, synchronize, and coordinate military cyberspace planning and operations to defend and advance national interests in collaboration with domestic and international partners.
**(b) Assignment of Forces.—**
(1) Active and reserve cyber forces of the armed forces shall be assigned to the United States Cyber Command through the Global Force Management Process, as approved by the Secretary of Defense.
(2) Cyber forces not assigned to United States Cyber Command remain assigned to combatant commands or service-retained.
**(c) Grade of Commander.—** The Commander of the United States Cyber Command shall hold the grade of general or, in the case of an officer of the Navy, admiral while serving in that position, without vacating that officer’s permanent grade. The Commander of such Command shall be appointed to that grade by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, for service in that position.
**(d) Authority of Combatant Commander.—**
(1) In addition to the authority prescribed in [section 164(c) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section164/c&num=0&edition=prelim), the Commander of the United States Cyber Command shall be responsible for, and shall have the authority to conduct, all affairs
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 10 U.S.C. § 167b
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Annual Report.—** Not later than 10 days after the date on which the budget of the President for a fiscal year is submitted to Congress pursuant to [section 1105 of title 31](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title31-section1105&num=0&edition=prelim), each officer specified in subsection (b) shall submit to the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and to the congressional defense committees, a report on the unfunded priorities of the armed force or forces or combatant command under the jurisdiction or command of such officer.
**(b) Officers.—** The officers specified in this subsection are the following:
(1) The Chief of Staff of the Army.
(2) The Chief of Naval Operations.
(3) The Chief of Staff of the Air Force.
(4) The Commandant of the Marine Corps.
(5) The Chief of Space Operations.
(6) The commanders of the combatant commands established under [section 161 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section161&num=0&edition=prelim).
(7) The Chief of the National Guard Bureau in the role assigned to that position in [section 10502(c)(1) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section10502/c/1&num=0&edition=prelim).
**(c) Elements.—**
(1) **In general.—** — Each report under this subsection shall specify, for each unfunded priority covered by such report, the following:
(A) A summary description of such priority, including the objectives outlined in the national defense strategy required under [section 113(g) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title10-section113/g&num=0&edition=prelim) and the National Military Strategy required under [section 139(b) of this title](ht
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 10 U.S.C. § 222a
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
**(a) Establishment.—** There is established a United States Space Force as an armed force within the Department of the Air Force.
**(b) Composition.—** The Space Force consists of—
(1) the Regular Space Force;
(2) all persons appointed or enlisted in, or conscripted into, the Space Force, including those not assigned to units, necessary to form the basis for a complete and immediate mobilization for the national defense in the event of a national emergency; and
(3) all Space Force units and other Space Force organizations, including installations and supporting and auxiliary combat, training, administrative, and logistic elements.
**(c) Functions.—** The Space Force shall be organized, trained, and equipped to—
(1) provide freedom of operation for the United States in, from, and to space;
(2) conduct space operations; and
(3) protect the interests of the United States in space.
Source: Supplied U.S. Code snapshot — release unconfirmed · 10 U.S.C. § 9081
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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities
Page 235
TITLE 10—ARMED FORCES
§ 161
Editorial Notes
AMENDMENTS
2016—Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 114–328 redesignated
subsec. (d) as (c) and struck out former subsec. (c).
Prior to amendment, text of subsec. (c) read as follows:
‘‘An officer appointed to serve as Legal Counsel to the
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall be ap-
pointed in the regular grade of brigadier general or rear
admiral (lower half).’’
2009—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 111–84 substituted ‘‘be ap-
pointed in the regular’’ for ‘‘, while so serving, hold
the’’.
2008—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 110–417 designated existing
provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2009 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 111–84, div. A, title V, § 501(b), Oct. 28, 2009, 123
Stat. 2272, provided that: ‘‘The amendment made by
subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect
on the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 28, 2009],
and shall apply with respect to individuals appointed as
Legal Counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff on or after that date.’’
CHAPTER 6—COMBATANT COMMANDS
Sec.
161.
Combatant commands: establishment.
162.
Combatant commands: assigned forces; chain
of command.
163.
Role of Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff.
164.
Commanders of combatant commands: as-
signment; powers and duties.
165.
Combatant commands: administration and
support.
166.
Combatant commands: budget proposals.
166a.
Combatant commands: funding through the
Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff.
166b.
Combatant commands: funding for combating
terrorism readiness initiatives.
167.
Unified combatant command for special oper-
ations forces.
[167a.
Repealed.]
167b.
Unified combatant command for cyber oper-
ations.
[168, 169. Repealed.]
Editoria
Source: Supplied 2024 U.S. Code historical extraction · 10 U.S.C. § 161
Stored review status: historical_2024_not_currentness_verified. Same stored citation; legal effect and authority still require review.