HEADQUARTERS, U.S. PACIFIC COMMAND
U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM) is a Unified Combatant Command of the Armed Forces of the United States. It encompasses about half the earth’s surface, stretching from the west coast of the U.S. to the western border of India, and from Antarctica to the North Pole. There are few regions as culturally, socially, economically, and geo-politically diverse as the Asia-Pacific. The 36 nations that comprise the Asia-Pacific region are home to more than fifty percent of the world’s population, three thousand different languages, several of the world’s largest militaries, and five nations allied with the U.S. through mutual defense treaties. Two of the four largest economies are located in the Asia-Pacific along with 10 of the 14 smallest. The AOR includes the most populous nation in the world, the largest democracy, and the largest Muslim-majority nation. More than one third of Asia-Pacific nations are smaller island nations that include the smallest republic in the world and the smallest nation in Asia.
USPACOM protects and defends, in concert with other U.S. Government agencies, the territory of the United States, its people, and its interests. With allies and partners, USPACOM is committed to enhancing stability in the Asia-Pacific region by promoting security cooperation, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies, deterring aggression, and, when necessary, fighting to win. This approach is based on partnership, presence, and military readiness.
Commander, U.S. Pacific Command (CDRUSPACOM) is the senior U.S. military authority in the Pacific Area of Responsibility (AOR). CDRUSPACOM reports to the President of the United States through the Secretary of Defense and is supported by four component commands: U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. Pacific Air Forces, U.S. Army Pacific, and U.S. Marine Forces Pacific. These commands are headquartered in Hawai’i and have forces stationed and deployed throughout the region.
USPACOM military personnel number approximately 250,000, or about one-fifth of total U.S. military strength. U.S. Navy and Marine forces are numerically the largest elements in the AOR. U.S. Pacific Fleet includes five aircraft carrier strike groups and U.S. Marine Corps Pacific possesses about two-thirds of U.S. Marine Corps combat strength. The entire U.S. Navy-Marine team comprises more than 135,000 personnel, 180 ships, and 1,400 aircraft. U.S. Air Forces Pacific comprises approximately 39,000 airmen and 350 aircraft; and U.S. Army, Pacific has about 50,000 personnel, including four Stryker brigades. USPACOM also has more than 1,200 Special Operations personnel. Finally, there are more than 13,000 U.S. Coast Guard personnel available to support U.S. military forces in the region.
USPACOM recognizes the global significance of the Asia-Pacific region and understands that challenges are best met together. USPACOM will remain an engaged and trusted partner committed to preserving the security, stability, and freedom upon which enduring prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region depends.
EXERCISES AND OTHER ENGAGEMENTS
USPACOM participates in many exercises and other engagement activities with foreign military forces. Major exercises include:
- TALISMAN SABER: A biennial Australia/United bilateral exercise merging Exercises TANDEM THRUST, KINGFISHER and CROCODILE. TALISMAN SABER is the primary training venue for Commander Seventh Fleet as a Combined Task Force (CTF) in a short warning, power projection, forcible entry scenario. The exercise is a key opportunity to train Australian and US combined forces in mid to high-intensity combat operations using training areas in Australia
- COBRA GOLD: A joint/combined exercise with Thailand designed to improve U.S./Thai combat readiness and joint/combined interoperability.
- BALIKATAN: A joint exercise with the Republic of the Philippines and the U.S. to improve combat readiness and interoperability.
- KEEN SWORD/KEEN EDGE: Joint/bilateral training exercises (field training/simulation, respectively) to increase combat readiness and joint/bilateral interoperability of U.S. Forces and Japan Self-Defense Forces for the defense of Japan.
- RIM OF THE PACIFIC: A biennial large-scale multinational power projection/sea control exercise. In 2000, participants included the U.S., Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Chile and the United Kingdom.
PACOM participated in more than 20 disaster relief operations in 12 countries and one U.S. territory (Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Palau, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Burma, India, Madagascar, Sri Lanka and Guam) since 1996.
The U.S. Navy makes approximately 700 port visits throughout the Pacific region each year.
COMMAND CHANNELS
In the operational chain of command, USPACOM reports directly to the Secretary of Defense and President of the United States.
In the administrative chain of command, USPACOM reports through the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
USPACOM exercises combatant command of assigned forces through commanders of service components, subordinate unified commands and joint task forces.
The 17 organizations responsible for Security Assistance within USPACOM report to their respective U.S. ambassadors. USPACOM maintains a significant role in coordinating U.S. military strategy with security assistance policy and program management affecting 28 foreign nations.
Published by the Public Affairs Office, Headquarters, United States Pacific Command. For additions and/or changes, please contact USPACOM Public Affairs Office, (808) 477-1341; FAX (808) 477-6247.
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