United States Strategic Command
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United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) is one of nine unified commands of the United States Department of Defense which controls the nuclear weapons assets of the United States military. It is also a global integrator charged with the missions of Space Operations; Information Operations; Integrated Missile Defense; Global Command and Control; Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance; Global Strike; and Strategic Deterrence. It is headquartered at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. The Headquarters uses four Joint Functional Component Commands (JFCCs) to complete daily planning and execution for the primary mission areas of Integrated Missile Defense, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Space & Global Strike and Network Warfare.
Leadership
General James E. Cartwright is the commander of USSTRATCOM, and serves as the senior commander of the joint military forces from all four branches of the military assigned to the command. General Cartwright is the leader, steward and advocate of the nation's strategic capabilities. His responsibilities include integrating and coordinating the necessary command and control capability to provide support with the most accurate and timely information for the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense, and to regional combatant commanders.Mission
USSTRATCOM combines the synergy of the U.S. legacy nuclear command and control mission with responsibility for space operations; global strike; Defense Department information operations; global missile defense; global command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR); and combating weapons of mass destruction. This dynamic package gives the President and the Secretary of Defense a unified resource for greater understanding of specific threats around the world and the means to respond to those threats rapidly. USSTRATCOM exercises overleadment and command authority over four joint functional component commands, also known as JFCCs. This combination of authorities, oversight, leadership and management enables a more responsive, flattened organizational construct according to the commands leadership.Organization
Primary operational units
- Joint Functional Component Commands These commands are responsible for the day-to-day planning and execution of primary mission areas: space and global strike; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; network warfare; integrated missile defense; and the recently added mission of combating weapons of mass destruction.
- * Joint Functional Component Command for Space and Global Strike (JFCC SGS) — The Commander Eighth Air Force serves as the Joint Functional Component Commander for Space and Global Strike. This component remains headquartered at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., and will integrate all elements of military power to conduct, plan, and present global strike effects and also direct the deliberate planning and execution of assigned space operation missions. For plans not aligned with a specific mission set, the JFCC SGS is tasked to work in close coordination with USSTRATCOM headquarters as the lead component responsible for the integration and coordination of capabilities provided by all other Joint Functional Component Commands.
- * Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense (JFCC IMD) – The Commander, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command, also serves as the commander for the JFCC IMD. This component is responsible for meeting USSTRATCOM's Unified Command Plan responsibilities for planning, integrating, and coordinating global missile defense operations and support. JFCC IMD conducts the day-to-day operations of assigned forces and coordinates activities with associated combatant commands, other USSTRATCOM Joint Functional Components and the efforts of the Missile Defense Agency.
- * Joint Functional Component Command for Network Warfare (JFCC NW) — Initiated in January 2005, this component facilitates cooperative engagement with other national entities in computer network defense and offensive information warfare as part of the global information operations mission. This coordinated approach to information operations involves two other important supporting commands. The Director, Defense Information Systems Agency also heads the Joint Task Force for Global Network Operations. This organization is responsible for operating and defending U.S. worldwide information networks, a function closely aligned with the efforts of the Joint Functional Component Command for Network Warfare.
- * Joint Functional Component Command for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (JFCC-ISR) — The Commander, JFCC-ISR, also serves as the Director, Defense Intelligence Agency. This component is responsible for coordinating global intelligence collection to address DoD worldwide operations and national intelligence requirements. It will serve as the center for planning, execution and assessment of the military's global Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance operations; a key enabler to achieving global situational awareness.
- * Center for Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction (SCC WMD) - The Secretary of Defense recently assigned USSTRATCOM responsibility for integrating and synchronizing DoD's efforts for combating weapons of mass destruction. SCC WMD works closely with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and declared Initial Operating Capability on January 26, 2006 in a ceremony in Washignton, DC.[link]
Organizational and support units
- Joint Task Force-Global Network Operations (JTF-GNO) - Located in Arlington, Va., the Joint Task Force-Global Network Operations (JTF-GNO) is U.S. Strategic Command's operational component supporting USSTRATCOM in defense of the DoD's Global Information Grid. This is done by integrating GNO capabilities into the operations of all DoD computers, networks, and systems used by DoD combatant commands, services and agencies.
- Joint Information Operations Center (JIOC) - The JIOC integrates Information Operations (IO) into military plans and operations across the spectrum of conflict. Located at Lackland AFB, Texas, the JIOC deploys information operations planning teams worldwide at a moment's notice to support combatant commanders and joint task forces.
Task Forces
USSTRATCOM relies on various task forces for the execution of its global missions. These include:- Aerial Refueling/Tankers - Air Force refueling aircraft greatly enhance the command's capability to conduct global combat and reconnaissance operations. Tankers are assigned to Eighteenth Air Force, Scott AFB, Illinois, with headquarters at Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Illinois.
- Airborne Communications - The Navy's E-6B Mercury aircraft provide a survivable communications link between national decision-makers and the nation's strategic forces. An airborne command post, the E-6B enables the President and the Secretary of Defense to directly contact crews on the nation's ballistic missile submarines, land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles and long-range bombers. E-6B aircraft are assigned to Strategic Communications Wing One, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma.
- Ballistic Missile Submarines - Considered the most survivable leg of the nation's strategic forces, Navy ballistic missile submarines, or SSBNs, provide launch capability from around the globe using the Trident missile weapon system. Atlantic SSBNs are based at Kings Bay Submarine Base, Georgia, with headquarters at Commander, Submarine Forces U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Naval Base Norfolk, Virginia; Pacific SSBNs are based at Bangor, Washington, with headquarters at Commander Submarine Forces U.S. Pacific Fleet, Naval Base Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
- Strategic Bomber and Reconnaissance Aircraft - Aircraft assigned to Eighth Air Force, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, are capable of deploying air power to any area of the world. B-1B Lancer heavy bombers are available at Dyess AFB, Texas and Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, though the United States does not carry nuclear weapons in the B-1B in compliance with international treaty. B-52 Stratofortress heavy bombers are based at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, and Minot AFB, North Dakota. B-2 Spirit stealth bombers are stationed at Whiteman AFB, Missouri. Worldwide reconnaissance aircraft assigned to Eighth Air Force that support the USSTRATCOM mission include the RC-135 Rivet Joint, Offutt AFB, Nebraska, and the U-2S Dragon Lady, Beale AFB, California.
- Land-based Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles - Air Force ICBMs, dispersed in hardened silos across the nation's central tier, provide a quick-reacting and highly reliable component to the nation's strategic forces. Minuteman III missile launch control centers are based from F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming; Malmstrom AFB, Montana; and Minot AFB, North Dakota, Peacekeeper missiles are based at F.E. Warren AFB. ICBM crews report to Twentieth Air Force, F.E. Warren AFB. The Peacekeeper missiles were officially deactivated on 19 September 2005.[link]
Innovations
General Cartwright is exploring ways to incorporate innovative collaborative tools into what has traditionally been considered a very centralized military organization. Speaking at a recent convention General Cartwright said, "Where I would like to be is well outside the comfort zone of my organization. But what we've started with is just some simple 'blogging' tools, to try to change the culture a little bit; to try to allow people to contribute." [link]History
- redirect
With USSTRATCOM, for the first time in U. S. history, the planning, targeting and wartime employment of strategic forces came under the control of a single commander while the day-to-day training, equipment and maintenance responsibilities for its forces remained with the services -- the Air Force and Navy.
By the turn of the century, the command was well aware that the future posed challenges both different and greater than those present in 1992 when USSTRATCOM was established. Events of Sept. 11, 2001, vividly demonstrated a need for new strategic direction.
The emergence of transnational global threats state and non-state actors such as terrorist organizations that operate across state borders, increasingly in affiliation with others who oppose U.S. interests required a different approach to U.S. defense. Sept. 11 also illustrated the need to improve the nation's national command and control architecture to those in the DOD.
At the same time, the nation's strategic nuclear posture was also under review. While nuclear weapons play an essential role in U.S. security plans, and submarine-launched ballistic missiles, land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles and strategic bombers continue to provide the foundation of deterrence, the President and Secretary of Defense called for a broader range of military strategic options, including non-nuclear options.
The US 2002 Nuclear Posture Review, rather than relying on a strategy grounded solely in offensive nuclear response, expanded nuclear deterrence to include non-nuclear strike options, active and passive defenses, supported by a command and control infrastructure, intelligence, and adaptive and responsive planning capabilities.
Shortly after a meeting between President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in May 2002, a summit was held during which both leaders signed a treaty promising bilateral reductions that would result in a total of 1,700 to 2,200 operationally deployed strategic nuclear weapons for each country by the year 2012.
SpaceCom
The United States Space Command (USSPACECOM) was a unified command of the United States military created in 1985 to help institutionalize the use of space by the United States. The Department of Defense merged U.S. Space Command with the United States Strategic Command on October 1, 2002.Military space operations coordinated by USSC proved to be very valuable for the U.S.-led coalition in the 1991 Persian Gulf War. The U.S. military has relied on communications, intelligence, navigation, missile warning and weather satellite systems in areas of conflict since the early 1990s, including the Balkans, Southwest Asia, and Afghanistan. Space systems are considered indispensable providers of tactical information to U.S. warfighters.
As part of the ongoing initiative to transform the U.S. military, the Department of Defense merged U.S. Space Command with the United States Strategic Command on October 1, 2002. The merger was intended to improve combat effectiveness and speeds up information collection and assessment needed for strategic decision-making.
On June 26, 2002, Secretary Donald Rumsfeld announced that U.S. Space Command would merge with USSTRATCOM as part of the ongoing initiative to transform the U.S. military into a 21st century fighting force. As part of a change to the Unified Command Plan, President Bush migrated space missions from the former USSPACECOM and subsequently nominated Admiral James Ellis to be commander of the new unified command, which would retain the U.S. Strategic Command name and would be headquartered at Offutt Air Force Base.
The activation of the new USSTRATCOM took place October 1, 2002. The merged command was responsible for both early warning of and defense against missile attack as well as long-range strategic attacks.
President Bush signed Change Two to the Unified Command Plan on January 10, 2003, and tasked USSTRATCOM with four previously unassigned responsibilities: global strike, missile defense integration, Department of Defense Information Operations, and C4ISR (command and control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance). This combination of roles, capabilities, and authorities under a single unified command was unique in the history of unified commands.
The new command provided a single commander, with a global perspective, to support the President.
Commanders
- Admiral James O. Ellis, Jr. (2002-2004)
- General James E. Cartwright (2004-present)
See also
External links
- [United States Strategic Command Official Website]
- [FAS: United States Space Command (USSPACECOM)]
- [Archived website]
Bibliography
Johnson, Spencer (September 2002). “[The Unified Command Plan].” Joint Forces Quarterly
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| Regional responsibilities | |
| US Northern Command - US Central Command - US European Command - US Pacific Command - US Southern Command | |
| Functional responsibilities | |
| US Special Operations Command - US Joint Forces Command - US Strategic Command - US Transportation Command | |
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