The United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) is one of the five geographically defined unified commands within the Department of Defense. Today, it is responsible for planning and conducting U.S. military activity in a region consisting of 27 countries in Northeast Africa, Southwest and Central Asia, and the island nation of the Seychelles. An evolutionary development of the temporary Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force (RDJTF) established by the Carter administration, USCENTCOM was established January 1, 1983. As its name implies, USCENTCOM covers the "central" area of the globe located between the European and Pacific Commands. Today's command evolved as a practical solution to the problem of projecting U.S. military power to the Gulf region from halfway around the world. For more information, visit the USCENTCOM Web site. |
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