Currently, seven combatant commands are designated as geographical, and four are designated as functional. special operations, force projection, transport, and cybersecurity. Unified combatant commands are organized either on a geographical basis (known as ' area of responsibility', AOR) or on a functional basis, i.e. military forces, regardless of branch of service, during peace or during war time. There are currently 11 unified combatant commands and each are established as the highest echelons of military commands, in order to provide effective command and control of all U.S.
A unified combatant command ( CCMD), also referred to as a combatant command, is a joint military command of the United States Department of Defense that is composed of units from two or more service branches of the United States Armed Forces, and conducts broad and continuing missions.
