Abstract
The United States’ “Indo-Pacific Command” is a linchpin and carries great meaning not only militarily but also diplomatically. This chapter provides an overview of the organization and history of the unified commands of the United States, and of the eleven unified commands, it focuses on U.S. Pacific Command in particular. While the U.S. armed forces is known for the five branches (the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Space Force), the actual combatant commands are organized into “unified commands.” Of the eleven unified commands, seven are by region and four are by function. The command with jurisdiction over the Asia–Pacific region is INDOPACOM, which is the largest of the eleven unified commands. The presence of the United States Forces Japan (USFJ) and the United States Forces Korea (USFK) usually garners much attention. Nevertheless, the office that would take charge of operations in the event of an emergency is the Indo-Pacific Command Headquarters located in Oahu, Hawaii. The INDOPACOM commander only takes orders from the U.S. president and Secretary of Defense and therefore has a tremendous level of authority with regard to security in the Asia–Pacific region. Indo-Pacific Command plays an essential role in the security of the Asia–Pacific region.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
Shinzo Abe “Japan Is Back” policy speech at CSIS, February 22, 2013, https://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/96_abe/statement/2013/0223speech.html (accessed on May 31, 2018).
- 2.
Shinzo Abe “Remarks by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the occasion of accepting Hudson Institute's 2013 Herman Kahn Award” September 25, 2013, https://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/96_abe/statement/2013/0223speech.html (accessed on May 31, 2018).
- 3.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs “Chapter 1 International Situation and Japan’s Diplomacy in 2016,” Diplomatic Bluebook, https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/gaiko/bluebook/2017/html/chapter1_02.html (accessed on May 31, 2018).
- 4.
White House, “Remarks by President Trump and Prime Minister Modi of India in Joint Press Statement,” White House, June 26, 2017, https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-prime-minister-modi-india-joint-pressstatement/ (accessed on May 31, 2018).
- 5.
White House, “United States and India: Prosperity Through Partnership,” White House, June 26, 2017, https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/united-states-india-prosperity-partnership/ (accessed on May 31, 2018).
- 6.
White House, “Readout of President Donald J. Trump’s Call with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan,” White House, October 23, 2017, https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/readout-president-donald-j-trumps-call-prime-ministershinzo-abe-japan-5/ (accessed on May 31, 2018).
- 7.
Military journalists have the following books. Beigun Tokubetsu Shuzaihan, Amerika Taiheiyogun no Shin Senryaku (New Strategy of the United States Pacific Command) (Ariadne Kikaku, 2004). Additionally, in regard to the United States Forces Japan Headquarters, there are details in Tsuyoshi Sunohara, Zainichibeigun Shirei-bu (United States Forces Japan Headquarters) (Shinchosha, 2008). A book focused on the transformation (reorganization) of the US armed forces is Masahiko Hisae, Beigunsaihen: Nichibei “Himitsu Kosho” de Nani ga Atta ka (Reorganization of the US armed forces: What Happened in the “Secret Negotiations” between Japan and the United States?) (Kodansha’s New Library of Knowledge, 2005). A book that covers both the US armed forces and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army is Satoru Fuse, Beigun to Jinmin Kaiho-gun: Amerika Kokubososho no Taichu Senryaku (The US armed forces and the People’s Liberation Army: The United States Department of Defense’s Strategies for China) (Kodansha’s New Library of Knowledge, 2014).
- 8.
United States Code, Title 10, §101.
- 9.
Referred to the following regarding the history and structure of combatant commands. Cynthia A. Watson (2010).
- 10.
United States Code, Title 10, §161.
- 11.
ibid.
- 12.
This section is based on the following document. Edward J. Drea et al., 2013, pp. 1–6.
- 13.
Shigeo Kikuchi, “Strengthening Integration in the United States: Review and Discussion of the Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986,” Boei Kenkyusho Nyusu (National Institute for Defense Studies News), July 2005 issue (total of 90 issues). Additionally, refer to the following. Gordon Nathaniel Lederman (1999), pp. 106–107.
- 14.
Ash Carter (2016).
- 15.
PACOM, “History of the United States Pacific Command,” PACOM, http://www.pacom.mil/AboutUSPACOM/History.aspx (accessed on March 6, 2016).
- 16.
“Testimony of United States Commander in Chief Hays, U.S. Pacific Command, at Hearing of Senate Committee on Armed Services < Excerpt > : Front Line Deployment of U.S.-Soviet Operational Readiness Potential,” Sekai Shuho (World Weekly), March 10, 1987, pp. 34-40.
- 17.
Taisei Ugaki (2004), pp. 38–49.
- 18.
Keiichi Nogi, (2004), pp. 28–37.
- 19.
Dennis Blair, Yoshihisa Komori, “Increasing the Military Strength of Japan Would Be Beneficial for the Peace and Stability of East Asia,” SAPIO, March 23, 2005, pp. 101-103.
- 20.
Mitsumasa Saito, “Walking the Front Line of US armed forces Restructuring: Strategic Preparations Hidden in Air Force Headquarters Guam Transfer; United States Pacific Command Headquarters,” SAPIO, January 19/February 2, 2005, pp. 110-112.
- 21.
Yuki Tatsumi, “Interview with Former United States Commander, U.S. Pacific Command Blair Regarding How to View the US armed forces Restructuring; Lessening the Burden on Okinawa Not Impossible; Hoping that the Self-Defense Forces Will Independently Protect Japan,” Ronza (Viewpoints), September 2005 issue, pp. 178-183.
References
Watson, Cynthia A. 2010. Combatant Commands: Origins, Structure, and Engagements, 1st Edition, Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger
Drea, Edward J., Ronald H. Cole, Walter S. Poole, James F. Schnabel, Robert J. Watson, and Willard J. Webb. 2013. History of the Unified Command Plan 1946–2012, 1–6. Washington, DC: Joint History Office, Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Lederman, Gordon Nathaniel. 1999. Reorganizing the Joint Chiefs of Staff: The Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986, 106–107. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.
Carter, Ash. 2016 April 5. “Secretary of Defense Speech, Remarks on ‘Goldwater-Nichols at 30: An Agenda for Updating,” Washington, D.C.: CSIS Building.
Ugaki, Taisei. 2004. Overview of the United States Pacific Command Transformation. Gunji Kenkyu (Japan Military Review) 39 (12): 38–49.
Nogi, Keiichi. 2004. The True Nature of the ‘Transformation.’ Gunji Kenkyu (Japan Military Review) 39 (12): 28–37.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2022 Keio University
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Tsuchiya, M. (2022). Organization and History of the Unified Commands of the United States. In: Tsuchiya, M., Roy, D. (eds) U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. Evidence-Based Approaches to Peace and Conflict Studies, vol 12. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-5268-5_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-5268-5_1
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-19-5267-8
Online ISBN: 978-981-19-5268-5
eBook Packages: Political Science and International StudiesPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)