Definitions

Peterson AFB, CO

Structure of the United States Armed Forces

United States Armed Forces

Commander-in-Chief: George W. Bush
Secretary of Defense: Robert M. Gates
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: Michael Mullen
Military budget: $623.0 billion (2008 official)
Employees: 700,000 civilian
2.8 million military (2008)

The structure of the United States armed forces is a chain of command leading from the President (as commander-in-chief) to the newest recruits. The United States armed forces are organized through the United States Department of Defense, which oversees a complex and complicated structure of joint command and control functions with many units reporting to various commanding officers. The following is a necessarily incomplete list of the various major military units, commands, and DOD offices and agencies, including civilian and military chains of command.

Department of Defense

Office of the Secretary of Defense

  • Under Secretary of Defense Comptroller/Chief Financial Officer
    • Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)
    • Director for Program Analysis and Evaluation
  • Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics
    • Director of Defense Research and Engineering
    • Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition and Technology)
    • Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Logistics and Material Readiness)
    • Assistant to the Secretary of Defense (Nuclear and Chemical and Biological Defense Programs)
    • Director of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
    • Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition Reform)
    • Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Advanced Systems and Concepts)
    • Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Environmental Security)
    • Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Industrial Affairs)
    • Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Installations)
    • Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Science and Technology)
  • Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness
    • Assistant Secretary of Defense (Force Management Policy)
    • Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs)
    • Assistant Secretary of Defense (Reserve Affairs)
    • Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Readiness)
    • Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Program Integration)
    • Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Planning)
  • Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
    • Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Policy)
    • Assistant Secretary of Defense (International Security Affairs)
    • Assistant Secretary of Defense (Strategy and Threat Reduction)
    • Assistant Secretary of Defense (Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict)
    • Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Policy Support)
    • Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Technology Security Policy)
    • Defense Advisor, U.S. Mission NATO
  • Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence
  • Assistant Secretary of Defense (Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence)
  • Assistant Secretary of Defense (Legislative Affairs)
  • Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)
  • General Counsel of the DoD
  • Director of Operational Test and Evaluation
  • Assistant to the Secretary of Defense (Intelligence Oversight)
  • Director of Administration and Management
  • Director of Net Assessment

Inspector General's Office

  • Inspector General of the Department of Defense: Thomas F. Gimble
    • Principal Deputy Inspector General
      • Dean of Instruction
      • EEO
      • Senior Military Officer
      • Assistant Inspector General for Administration and Management
      • Assistant Inspector General, Congressional/Committee Liaison
      • General Counsel
      • Deputy Inspector General for Auditing
        • Principal Assistant Inspector General (Audit)
          • Assistant Inspector General (Auditing)
            • Deputy Assistant Inspector General (Auditing)
              • Service Audit Agencies
      • Deputy Inspector General for Policy and Oversight
        • Assistant Inspector General (Audit Policy Oversight)
        • Assistant Inspector General (Inspection & Evaluations)
        • Assistant Inspector General (Investigation Policy & Oversight)
        • Director of Hotline
        • Director of AFU
        • Director of QMD
        • Director of TAD
        • Director of Data Mining
        • Service Inspector Generals
      • Deputy Inspector General for Investigations
      • Deputy Inspector General for Intelligence

Joint Chiefs of Staff and Joint Staff

Joint Staff

Department of the Navy

Department of the Army

  • Secretary of the Army
    • Under Secretary of the Army
      • Inspector General of the Army
      • Army Auditor General
      • Deputy Under Secretary of the Army
      • Deputy Under Secretary of the Army for Business Transformation
      • Chief, Legislative Liaison
      • Chief, Public Affairs
      • Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization Office
      • General Counsel of the Army
      • Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army
      • Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology)
      • Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works)
      • Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management and Comptroller)
      • Assistant Secretary of the Army (Installations and Environment)
      • Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs)
      • Chief Information Officer
        • United States Army Network Enterprise Technology Command/9th Signal Command
      • Director, Army Staff
      • The United States Military Academy
      • United States Army Intelligence and Security Command
      • United States Army Test and Evaluation Command
      • United States Army Criminal Investigation Command
      • United States Army Medical Command
      • United States Army Military District of Washington
      • United States Army Corps of Engineers
      • United States Army Reserve Command
      • United States Army Acquisition Support Center
    • Chief of Staff of the Army
      • Vice Chief of Staff of the Army
        • Surgeon General of the Army
        • Chief, National Guard Bureau
        • Chief, Army Reserve
        • Judge Advocate General
        • Chief of Chaplains
        • Sergeant Major of the Army
        • Deputy Chief of Staff (Logistics) (G-4)
        • Chief of Engineers
        • Deputy Chief of Staff (Programs) (G-8)
        • Assistant Chief of Staff, Installation Management
          • United States Army Installation Management Command
        • Deputy Chief of Staff (Manpower) (G-1)
        • Deputy Chief of Staff (Intelligence) (G-2)
        • Deputy Chief of Staff (Plans, Operations and Transformation) (G-3/5/7)
        • United States Army Training and Doctrine Command
        • United States Army Materiel Command
        • United States Army Forces Command
        • United States Army Central
        • United States Army Europe
        • United States Army North
        • United States Army South
        • United States Army Pacific
        • United States Army Special Operations Command
        • Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command
        • United States Army Space and Missile and Defense Command/Army Strategic Command
        • Eighth Army

Department of the Air Force

  • Secretary of the Air Force
    • Under Secretary of the Air Force
      • Administrative Assistant
      • Auditor General
      • Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition)
      • Director of Communication
      • Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Financial Management and Comptroller)
      • Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Installations, Environment and Logistics)
      • Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force (International Affairs)
      • Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Manpower and Reserve Affairs)
      • Director of Public Affairs
      • Director, Legislative Liaison
      • Inspector General of the Air Force
      • General Counsel of the Air Force
      • Chief of Warfighting Integration
      • Chief Information Officer
      • Air Force Historian
      • Director of Test and Evaluation
      • Chief Scientist of the Air Force
    • Air Force Chief of Staff
      • Air Force Vice Chief of Staff
        • Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
        • Deputy Chief of Staff (Personnel) (A1)
        • Deputy Chief of Staff (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) (A2)
        • Deputy Chief of Staff (Air, Space and Information Operations, Plans and Requirements) (A3/5)
        • Deputy Chief of Staff (Logistics, Installations and Mission Support) (A4/7)
        • Deputy Chief of Staff (Strategic Plans and Programs) (A8)
        • Director for Studies Analyses, Assessments and Lessons Learned (A9)
        • Chief of Chaplains
        • Judge Advocate General
        • Chief, Air Force Reserve
        • Chief of Safety
        • Surgeon General of the Air Force
        • Director, Air National Guard
        • Air Combat Command
        • Air Education and Training Command
        • Air Force Material Command
        • Air Force Reserve Command
        • Air Force Space Command
        • Air Force Special Operations Command
        • Air Mobility Command
        • Pacific Air Forces
        • U.S. Air Forces in Europe

U.S. Strategic Command

Leadership

Order of Battle

U.S. Northern Command

Leadership

  • Commander, USNORTHCOM: General Victor E. Renuart Jr., USAF
    • Deputy Commander, USNORTHCOM: Lieutenant General William G. Webster Jr., United States Army
      • Chief of Staff: Major General Paul J. Sullivan, USAF
      • Command Senior Enlisted Leader: Command Sergeant Major Daniel R. Wood

Order of Battle

U.S. Joint Forces Command

Leadership

Order of Battle

U.S. European Command

Leadership

Order of Battle

  • US Army Europe (USAREUR), 7th US Army
    • Multinational Task Force (East) (Kosovo, Yugoslavia)
    • V Corps (Heidelberg, Germany)
      • 1st Armored Division (Wiesbaden, Germany)
        • 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division (Friedberg, Germany)
        • 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division (Baumholder, Germany)
        • 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division (Schweinfurt, Germany)
        • 2nd Cavalry Regiment Stryker Brigade Combat Team (Grafenwoehr, Germany)
        • 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division (Fort Riley, Kansas)
        • 12th Combat Aviation Brigade (Ansbach, Germany)
        • 1st Armored Division Artillery (Baumholder, Germany)
        • 1st Armored Division Engineers (Giessen, Germany)
        • 1st Armored Division Support Command (Wiesbaden, Germany)
        • Separate Units (Hessen, Germany)
      • 18th Engineer Brigade (Heidelberg, Germany)
      • 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade (Wuerzburg, Germany)
      • 130th Engineer Brigade
      • 205th Military Intelligence Brigade
      • V Corps Artillery
      • Special Troops Battalion
    • Southern European Task Force (Airborne) (Vicenza, Italy)
    • 21st Theater Support Command (Kaiserslautern, Germany)
    • 3rd Corps Support Command (Wiesbaden, Germany)
    • 7th Army Reserve Command (Schwetzingen, Germany)
    • Joint Multinational Training Command (Grafenwoehr, Germany)
    • 5th Signal Command (Mannheim, Germany)
    • 1st Personnel Command (Schwetzingen, Germany)
    • 266th Finance Command (Heidelberg, Germany)
    • Europe Regional Medical Command (Heidelberg, Germany)

U.S. Central Command

Leadership

U.S. Pacific Command

Leadership

Order of Battle

  • United States Pacific Command
    • United States Army Pacific
      • United States Army Japan
        • 9th Theater Support Command
          • 10th Area Support Group
          • 17th Area Support Group
          • 300th Area Support Group
      • United States Army Alaska
        • 172nd Infantry Brigade
        • 4th Brigade, 25th Infantry Division
        • Arctic Support Brigade
      • United States Army Hawaii
        • Military Police Brigade - Hawaii
      • I Corps
        • 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division
        • 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division
        • 1st Military Police Brigade
        • 1st Personnel Group
        • 14th PSYOPS Battalion
        • 62nd Medical Brigade
        • 201st Military Intelligence Brigade
        • 311th Corps Support Command
        • 555th Combat Engineer Group
        • 593rd Corps Support Group
      • 25th Infantry Division (Light)
      • 196th Infantry Brigade
      • 516th Signal Brigade
      • 9th Regional Readiness Command
    • United States Pacific Fleet
      • 3rd Fleet
        • CTF-30/ Battle Force
        • CTF-31/ Combat Support Force
        • CTF-32/ Patrol and Reconnaissance Force
        • CTF-33/ Logistic Support Force
        • CTF-34/ Submarine Force
        • CTF-35/ Surface Combatant Force
        • CTF-36/ Landing Force
        • CTF-37/ Amphibious Force
        • CTF-38/ Carrier Strike Force
      • 7th Fleet
        • CTF-70/ Battle Force
        • CTF-71/ Combat Support Force
        • CTF-72/ Patrol and Reconnaissance Force
        • CTF-73/ Logistic Support Force
        • CTF-74/ Submarine Force
        • CTF-75/ Surface Combatant Force
        • CTF-76/ Amphibious Force
        • CTF-77/ Carrier Strike Force
        • CTF-79/ Landing Force
      • Naval Surface Forces, United States Pacific Fleet
        • Destroyer Squadron 1
        • Destroyer Squadron 7
        • Destroyer Squadron 15
        • Destroyer Squadron 21
        • Destroyer Squadron 23
        • Destroyer Squadron 28
        • Carrier Group 1
        • Carrier Group 3
        • Carrier Group 5
        • Carrier Group 7
        • Cruiser Destroyer Group 1
        • Cruiser Destroyer Group 3
        • Cruiser Destroyer Group 5
        • Surface Group PACNORWEST
        • Surface Group MIDPAC
        • Logistics Group WESTPAC
        • Amphibious Group 1
        • Amphibious Group 3
        • Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 1
      • Naval Submarine Forces, United States Pacific Fleet
        • Submarine Group 7
        • Submarine Group 9
      • Naval Air Forces, United States Pacific Fleet
        • Fleet Air, West Pacific
        • Airborne Early Warning Wing
          • VAW-112
          • VAW-113
          • VAW-115
          • VAW-116
          • VAW-117
          • VRC-30
      • Naval Region, Southwest
      • Naval Region, Northwest
      • Naval Region, Hawaii
      • Maritime Defense Zone Pacific
      • United States Naval Forces Marianas
    • Marine Forces Pacific
    • United States Pacific Air Forces
    • United States Forces, Japan
    • United States Forces, Korea
    • Alaskan Command
    • Special Operations Command Pacific
    • Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies
    • Information Systems Support Activity
    • Pacific Automated Server Site Japan
    • Cruise Missile Support Activity
    • Special Intelligence Communications
    • Joint Intelligence Center Pacific
    • Joint Intelligence Training Activity Pacific
    • Joint Interagency Task Force West
    • Joint Task Force Full-Accounting

U.S. Southern Command

Leadership

  • Commander, USSOUTHCOM: Gen. Bantz J. Craddock, USA
    • Deputy Commander, USSOUTHCOM: Maj. Gen. Glenn F. Spears, USAF
    • Chief-of-Staff, USSOUTHCOM: Brig. Gen. Nolen B. Vivens, USA
    • Command Sergent Major, USSOUTHCOM: CSM Micheal M. Balch, USA

Order of Battle

U.S. Africa Command

Leadership

U.S. Special Operations Command

Order of Battle

  • United States Special Operations Command (MacDill AFB, Florida)
    • Army Special Operations Command (Fort Bragg, NC)
      • 75th Ranger Regiment (Fort Benning, GA)
      • 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) (Fort Campbell, KY)
      • Special Forces Command (Airborne) (Fort Bragg, NC)
      • Special Operations Support Command (Fort Bragg, NC)
      • 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment (Airborne) - Delta (Fort Bragg, NC)
      • John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center (Fort Bragg, NC)
      • 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne) (Fort Bragg, NC)
      • 95th Civil Affairs Brigade (Provisional) (Fort Bragg, NC)
    • Naval Special Warfare Command (NAB Coronado, CA)
      • Special Warfare Group One (NAB Coronado, CA)
      • Special Warfare Group Two (NAB Little Creek, VA)
      • Special Boat Squadron One (NAB Coronado, CA)
      • Special Boat Squadron Two (NAB Little Creek, VA)
      • Naval Special Warfare Center (NAB Coronado, CA)
      • Special Warfare Development Group (Dam Neck, VA)
    • Air Force Special Operations Command (Hurlburt Field, FL)
      • 919th Special Operations Wing (Duke Field, FL)
      • 18th Flight Test Squadron (Hurlburt Field, FL)
      • Air Force Special Operations Command Air Support Operations Squadron (Fort Bragg, NC)
      • United States Air Force Special Operations School (Hurlburt Field, FL)
      • 720th Special Tactics Group (Hurlburt Field, FL)
      • 16th Special Operations Wing (Hurlburt Field, FL)
      • 193rd Special Operations Wing (Harrisburg IAP, PA)
      • 352nd Special Operations Group (RAF Mildenhall, UK)
      • 353rd Special Operations Group (Kadena AB, Japan)
    • Marines Special Operations Command
      • Marine Special Operations Advisor Group
      • 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion (Camp Pendleton, CA)
      • 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion (Camp Lejeune, NC)
      • Marine Special Operations Support Group
      • Marine Special Operations School
    • Joint Special Operations Command (Pope AFB and Fort Bragg, NC)
    • Acquisitions and Logistics Center

U.S. Transportation Command

Order of Battle

See also

External links

Search another word or see Peterson AFB, COon Dictionary | Thesaurus |Spanish
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT