U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM)

A regional headquarters responsible for planning and conducting U.S. military activity in the Asia-Pacific region. As a Unified Combatant Command, PACOM is composed of forces from the army, navy, air force, and marines and has a broad and ongoing mission. [Page 784]The regional division of commands allows defense planning to be focused on a specific region.

USPACOM is one of nine Unified Combatant Commands that include U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM), U.S. European Command (EUCOM), U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), U.S. Joint Forces Command (JFCOM), U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM), and U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM). PACOM is headquartered at Camp H. M. Smith in Oahu, Hawaii. As of October 2002, by direction of the secretary of defense, the title “Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command” was changed to “Commander, U.S. Pacific Command” (CDRUSPACOM). The PACOM commander reports directly to the secretary of defense.

Component commands of PACOM from the four services consist of U.S. Army Pacific, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Marine Forces Pacific, and U.S. Pacific Air Forces. Unified commands subordinate to PACOM are U.S. Forces, Japan; U.S. Forces, Korea; Alaskan Command; and Special Operations Command, Pacific. PACOM forces are organized into three categories: forward deployed, forward based, and CONUS (Continental U.S.). Additional support units located in Hawaii and throughout PACOM's area of responsibility include the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, the 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, and Joint Task Force Full-Accounting.

PACOM was established in 1947 and is the oldest and largest of the Unified Combatant Commands. PACOM's area of responsibility covers 43 countries, 10 territories and possessions, and 10 U.S. territories. Some of the major countries in the PACOM area include China, India, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, North Korea, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Antarctica was recently added to USPACOM's area of responsibility. Although Russia is included in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) area of responsibility, USPACOM, in coordination with USEUCOM, retains responsibility for force protection in the areas of the Russian Federation east of 100º east longitude, counterterrorism (CT) planning for U.S. diplomatic missions, and noncombatant evacuation operations (NEO). A Memorandum of Understanding signed between USEUCOM and USPACOM outlines Theater Security Cooperation responsibilities in eastern Russia.

The stated mission of PACOM is to enhance security and promote peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region by deterring aggression, responding to crises, and winning quickly and decisively in the event of war. The U.S. military through PACOM also seeks to establish and maintain security relationships with countries in the region and deter future conflicts. PACOM is also responsible for providing support to the mutual defense treaties forged in the region, including the U.S.–Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security (1960); South East Asia Collective Defense among the United States, France, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, and the Philippines (1955); ANZUS (Australia, New Zealand, U.S., 1952); the U.S.–Republic of Korea Mutual Defense Treaty (1954); and the U.S.–Republic of the Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty (1952). PACOM has participated in more than 1,500 exercises and other engagement activities with foreign military forces. Disaster-relief operations are also conducted as needed in the region by PACOM.

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