§ 162. Combatant commands: assigned forces; chain of command
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/usc/title-10/section-162A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
(a)Assignment of Forces.—
(1)As directed by the Secretary of Defense, the Secretaries of the military departments shall assign specified forces under their jurisdiction to unified and specified combatant commands or to the United States element of the North American Aerospace Defense Command to perform missions assigned to those commands. The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that such assignments are consistent with the force structure prescribed by the President for each combatant command.
(2)A force not assigned to a combatant command or to the United States element of the North American Aerospace Defense Command under paragraph
(1)shall remain assigned to the military department concerned for carrying out the responsibilities of the Secretary of the military department concerned as specified in section 7013, 8013, or 9013 of this title, as applicable.
(3)A force assigned to a combatant command or to the United States element of the North American Aerospace Defense Command under this section may be transferred from the command to which it is assigned only—
(A)by authority of the Secretary of Defense; and
(B)under procedures prescribed by the Secretary and approved by the President.
(4)Except as otherwise directed by the Secretary of Defense, all forces assigned to a unified combatant command shall be under the command of the commander of that command. The preceding sentence applies to forces assigned to a specified combatant command only as prescribed by the Secretary of Defense.
(b)Chain of Command.— Unless otherwise directed by the President, the chain of command to a unified or specified combatant command runs—
(1)from the President to the Secretary of Defense; and
(2)from the Secretary of Defense to the commander of the combatant command.
(Added Pub. L. 99–433, title II, § 211(a), Oct. 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 1012; amended Pub. L. 100–180, div. A, title XIII, § 1313, Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 1175; Pub. L. 100–456, div. A, title VII, § 711, Sept. 29, 1988, 102 Stat. 1997; Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title X, § 1073(a), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2657; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title IX, § 924, Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2358; Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title X, § 1081(a)(9), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1594; Pub. L. 115–232, div. A, title VIII, § 809(a), Aug. 13, 2018, 132 Stat. 1840.)
Connections6 cite this · traces to 5
Cited by 6 sections
U.S. Code
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16 references not yet in our index
- Pub. L. 99–433, title II, § 211(a)
- 100 Stat. 1012
- Pub. L. 100–180, div. A, title XIII, § 1313
- 101 Stat. 1175
- Pub. L. 100–456, div. A, title VII, § 711
- 102 Stat. 1997
- Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title X, § 1073(a)
- 110 Stat. 2657
- 130 Stat. 2358
- 131 Stat. 1594
- 132 Stat. 1840
- Pub. L. 104–201
- Pub. L. 100–456
- Pub. L. 100–180
- Pub. L. 99–433, title II, § 214(a)
- 100 Stat. 1018
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§ 162
Combatant commands: assigned forces; chain of command
Fed. Reg.×3
U.S.C.×2
Stat.×1
Pub. L.Pub. L. 99–433, title II, § 211(a)
Stat.100 Stat. 1012
Pub. L.Pub. L. 100–180, div. A, title XIII, § 1313
Stat.101 Stat. 1175
Pub. L.Pub. L. 100–456, div. A, title VII, § 711
Cites 21 · showing 10Cited by 6 across 3 sources