United States Central Command

United States Central Command
Unit name	United States Central Command
Dates	1 January 1983 – present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Department of Defense
Type	Unified combatant command
Role	Geographic combatant command
Garrison	MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, Florida
Garrison label	Headquarters
Nickname	CENTCOM
Motto	"Perseverance and Partnership"

United States Central Command. It is one of the eleven unified combatant commands of the United States Department of Defense. Established in 1983, its primary mission is to plan and execute military operations, promote security cooperation, and deter aggression within a volatile and strategically vital region. The command's headquarters is located at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida.

History

The command was activated on 1 January 1983, succeeding the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force which was created in response to the Iranian Revolution and the Soviet–Afghan War. Its early focus was on potential threats emanating from the Middle East during the final years of the Cold War. The command's significance grew dramatically with the Gulf War in 1990-1991, where it led Operation Desert Storm to expel Iraqi Armed Forces from Kuwait. Following the September 11 attacks, CENTCOM became the primary command for the War in Afghanistan under Operation Enduring Freedom and the Iraq War under Operation Iraqi Freedom, overseeing prolonged campaigns against al-Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

Organization

The command is led by a four-star general or admiral, currently from the United States Army, who reports directly to the Secretary of Defense via the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Its structure includes service component commands: United States Army Central at Shaw Air Force Base, United States Naval Forces Central Command headquartered in Manama, United States Air Forces Central at Al Udeid Air Base, and United States Marine Corps Forces Central Command. Key subordinate unified commands include the United States Special Operations Command Central and the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve.

Area of responsibility

CENTCOM's area of responsibility spans approximately 4 million square miles across 21 nations in the Greater Middle East. This includes the Arabian Peninsula, encompassing Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates, the Levant including Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon, the core nations of Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan, and parts of Central Asia such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan. The command also has responsibility for the critical maritime chokepoints of the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb, and the Suez Canal.

Operations and campaigns

The command has directed numerous major military operations. These include the 1991 Liberation of Kuwait campaign, the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan following the Battle of Tora Bora, and the 2003 2003 invasion of Iraq leading to the Battle of Baghdad. It oversaw the Iraqi insurgency (2003–2011) and the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021). More recent campaigns include Operation Inherent Resolve against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, and Operation Spartan Shield focused on regional deterrence. The command also conducts frequent exercises like Eager Lion with regional partners.

Commanders

Notable commanders have included General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, who led the command during the Gulf War, General Tommy Franks, who oversaw the initial phases of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, General David Petraeus, who implemented the Iraq War troop surge of 2007, and General Joseph Votel. The commander also serves as the head of the Combined Forces Command – Afghanistan when that mission is active. Commanders are nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate.

Relationship with other commands

CENTCOM works closely with adjacent geographic combatant commands. It coordinates with United States European Command on issues related to Turkey and the Eastern Mediterranean, with United States Africa Command along the Red Sea littoral and in the Horn of Africa, and with United States Indo-Pacific Command in the maritime domain near Pakistan. It also relies on functional commands like United States Transportation Command for logistics and United States Strategic Command for strategic assets. Key international partnerships are managed through frameworks like the Gulf Cooperation Council and with nations such as the United Kingdom and France.

Category:Unified combatant commands of the United States Department of Defense Category:Military units and formations established in 1983