PUBLIC LAW 99-433—OCT. 1, 1986
100 STAT. 1013
"(3) A force assigned to a combatant command under this section may be transferred from the command to which it is assigned only— "(A) by authority of the Secretary of Defense; and "(B) under procedures prescribed by the Secretary and approved by the President. "(4) Except as otherwise directed by the Secretary of Defense, all forces operating within the geographic area assigned to a unified combatant command shall be assigned to, and under the command of, the commander of that command. The preceding sentence applies to forces assigned to a specified combatant command only as prescribed by the Secretary of Defense. "(b) CHAIN OF COMMAND.—Unless otherwise directed by the President, the chain of command to a unified or specified combatant command runs— "(1) from the President to the Secretary of Defense; and "(2) from the Secretary of Defense to the commander of the combatant command. "§ 163. Role of Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff "(a) COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH CHAIRMAN OF J C S; ASSIGNMENT
OF DUTIES.—Subject to the limitations in section 152(c) of this title, the President may— "(1) direct that communications between the President or the Secretary of Defense and the commanders of the unified and specified combatant commands be transmitted through the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and "(2) assign duties to the Chairman to assist the President and the Secretary of Defense in performing their command function. "(b) OVERSIGHT BY CHAIRMAN OF JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF.—(1) The
Secretary of Defense may assign to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff responsibility for overseeing the activities of the combatant commands. Such assignment by the Secretary to the Chairman does not confer any command authority on the Chairman and does not alter the responsibility of the commanders of the combatant commands prescribed in section 164(b)(2) of this title. "(2) Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff serves as the spokesman for the commanders of the combatant commands, especially on the operational requirements of their commands. In performing such function, the Chairman shall— "(A) confer with and obtain information from the commanders of the combatant commands with respect to the requirements of their commands; "(B) evaluate and integrate such information; "(C) advise and make recommendations to the Secretary of Defense with respect to the requirements of the combatant commands, individually and collectively; and "(D) communicate, as appropriate, the requirements of the combatant commands to other elements of the Department of Defense. "§ 164. Commanders of combatant commands: assignment; powers and duties "(a) ASSIGNMENT AS COMBATANT COMMANDER.—(1) The President
may assign an officer to serve as the commander of a unified or specified combatant command only if the officer— "(A) has the joint specialty under section 661 of this title; and
10 USC 163.
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