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1 [1] (May 2, 2025)

handle is hein.crs/dnspmrus0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Serve Inforrning the legislative debate since 1914 S May 2, 2025 Defense Primer: U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM or STRATCOM) is a Department of Defense (DOD) functional (as opposed to geographic) combatant command (CCMD) responsible for deterring strategic attack through a safe, secure, effective, and credible, global combat capability and when directed, is ready to prevail in conflict. DOD's 2024 Report on the Nuclear Employment Strategy of the United States defined strategic attack as any nuclear attack or a significant, high-consequence non- nuclear attack with strategic-level effect. In various parts of the DOD budget, Congress authorizes and appropriates funding for personnel, operations, and capabilities provided by the military services for STRATCOM to execute its mission. Such capabilities include the U.S. nuclear triad, which consists of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine- launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) on ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), and bomber aircraft capable of delivering nuclear weapons. The Senate has confirmed individuals appointed to the grade of general or admiral and assigned to the position of STRATCOM commander under 10 U.S.C. §601. Background STRATCOM history dates back to the U.S. Air Force's Strategic Air Command (SAC), created in 1946. SAC was responsible for managing two of three legs of the nuclear triad-bombers and ICBMs-while the U.S. Navy was responsible for managing SSBNs. In the 1950s, the Navy began the deployment of Polaris SLBMs, prompting Navy and Air Force leaders to create a Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff (JSTPS). In 1961, the JSTPS produced the Single Integrated Operational Plan (SIOP), a master plan that integrated the services' plans and capabilities against a target set. STRATCOM was originally created in 1992 when SAC was deactivated after the end of the Cold War. As part of this new arrangement that emphasized jointness and centralized command and control over U.S. strategic nuclear forces, an Air Force general or a Navy admiral alternated in leading the new command. In 2002, DOD reorganized STRATCOM to incorporate the missions and responsibilities of what is now the U.S. Space Command (SPACECOM). In Section 1601 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (NDAA; P.L. 115-232), Congress authorized SPACECOM's reconstitution as a subordinate command under STRATCOM. In 2018, the Trump Administration established SPACECOM as a unified CCMD, independent of STRATCOM. Between 2009 and 2017, U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM) also operated as a subordinate command of STRATCOM until President Trump elevated CYBERCOM to unified CCMD status. Mission According to STRATCOM, the CCMD's mission set involves U.S. Strategic Deterrence, Nuclear Operations; Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3); Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations; Global Strike; and Missile Threat Assessment. STRATCOM also develops and exercises new operational concepts for the employment of capabilities in support of its mission set. The STRATCOM commander develops operational and planning requirements for U.S. nuclear forces and the NC3 system. The commander also is an essential participant in U.S. nuclear command and control and a member of the Nuclear Weapons Council, a joint DOD-Department of Energy body that facilitates interagency coordination on nuclear weapons issues. The current STRATCOM Commander is U.S. Air Force General Anthony Cotton, who is in his third year of service in this role and has announced plans to retire. Staffing and Organization STRATCOM is headquartered at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. It is staffed by 41,000 uniformed and civilian personnel, of which 65% are civilians, according to General Cotton. The CCMD is organized into two functional component commands and three service component commands. The functional component commands are responsible for the daily execution of the STRATCOM mission. The service component commands are responsible for organizing, training, and equipping forces that are presented to the CCMD for use. • The Joint Forces Air Component Command (JFACC), located at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, is a functional component responsible for delivering nuclear and conventional strikes and nonkinetic effects. Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) is a service component responsible for providing bomber and ICBM forces, and NC3 elements. The Senate-confirmed AFGSC commander also serves (i.e., is dual-hatted) as the JFACC commander. • The Joint Force Maritime Component Command (JFMCC), located at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, is a functional component responsible for executing maritime aspects of strategic deterrence. U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFFC) is a service component that provides naval forces. ,ittps://crsreports~congress.gov

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