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Code · U.S. Code · Title 10 - ARMED FORCES · CHAPTER 6— COMBATANT COMMANDS · § 161

§ 161. Combatant commands: establishment

1,653 words·~8 min read·/usc/title-10/section-161

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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.
(Added Pub. L. 99–433, title II, § 211(a), Oct. 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 1012; amended Pub. L. 117–263, div. A, title IX, § 912, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 2751.)
Connections70 cite this · traces to 4
Cited by 70 sections · top 51
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9 references not yet in our index
  • Pub. L. 99–433, title II, § 211(a)
  • 100 Stat. 1012
  • 136 Stat. 2751
  • 132 Stat. 2053
  • 136 Stat. 2802
  • Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title IX, § 905
  • 110 Stat. 2619
  • Pub. L. 99–433, title II, § 212
  • 100 Stat. 1017
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§ 161
Combatant commands: establishment
Bills×17
U.S.C.×14
Fed. Reg.×11
Pub. L.×10
Stat. Comp.×10
Stat.×8
Pub. L.Pub. L. 99–433, title II, § 211(a)
Stat.100 Stat. 1012
Stat.136 Stat. 2751
Stat.132 Stat. 2053
Stat.136 Stat. 2802
Cites 13 · showing 9Cited by 70 across 6 sources
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