United States Strike Command
Encyclopedia
In 1961 the United States Strike Command (STRICOM) was established at MacDill Air Force Base
as a unified combatant command capable of responding to global crises. The name of the command was originally derived from the acronym for Swift Tactical Reaction In Every Known Environment (STRIKE). It integrated the CONUS
-based forces of the Army's Continental Army Command and the Air Force's Tactical Air Command
(essentially elements from the Army's Strategic Army Corps
(STRAC) and the Air force's Composite Air Strike Force (CASF).
In 1965 the Atlantic Fleet
became STRICOM's naval component command. A year later General Theodore J. Conway
took command, who would hold command until 1969. Initially, STRICOM's assigned missions were to: (a) provide
a reserve of general purpose forces for reinforcing the other unified commands, (b) train the general reserve, (c) develop joint doctrine
and, (d) plan for and execute contingency operations. Subsequently, STRICOM's missions were expanded to include planning for, and execution of, operations in the Middle East, sub-Sahara Africa, and Southern Asia (MEAFSA).
STRICOM was redesignated United States Readiness Command (REDCOM) in 1972.
Essentially, the change was nothing more than a redesignation, except that the command was divested of its MEAFSA responsibilities. The redesignated command's missions included integrating, training, and providing CONUS-based general purpose forces, as well as planning and providing joint task force headquarters and forces for operations in areas not assigned to other unified commands. In 1979, the national command authorities ordered the CINC of REDCOM (CINCRED) to establish the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force (RDJTF) headquarters as a separate subordinate command within REDCOM. That same year, General Volney F. Warner
took command of REDCOM, and held command until 1981. The Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force became an independent unified command in 1983 as United States Central Command
(USCENTCOM).
Readiness Command was replaced by United States Special Operations Command
(USSOCOM) in 1987, with the last CINCRED, General James J. Lindsay
, becoming the first CINCSOC.
Detachment 1, 1150th USAF Special Activities Squadron, also known as "Communications Support Element" or CSE, was subordinate to USSTRICOM and operated from MacDill AFB. CSE was about a 50–50 mix of Air Force and Army personnel. CSE consisted of two units – "A" unit and "B" unit – and was mainly a mobile tactical communications outfit.
MacDill Air Force Base
MacDill Air Force Base is an active United States Air Force base located approximately south-southwest of downtown Tampa, Florida...
as a unified combatant command capable of responding to global crises. The name of the command was originally derived from the acronym for Swift Tactical Reaction In Every Known Environment (STRIKE). It integrated the CONUS
Contiguous United States
The contiguous United States are the 48 U.S. states on the continent of North America that are south of Canada and north of Mexico, plus the District of Columbia....
-based forces of the Army's Continental Army Command and the Air Force's Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
(essentially elements from the Army's Strategic Army Corps
Strategic Army Corps
The Strategic Army Corps was a command of the United States Army, with a mission of high readiness, active in the 1960s, but later inactivated.-Background:...
(STRAC) and the Air force's Composite Air Strike Force (CASF).
In 1965 the Atlantic Fleet
United States Fleet Forces Command
The United States Fleet Forces Command is an Atlantic Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources that are under the operational control of the United States Northern Command...
became STRICOM's naval component command. A year later General Theodore J. Conway
Theodore J. Conway
Theodore John Conway was a United States Army four star general who served as Commander in Chief, United States Strike Command/U.S. Commander in Chief, Middle East, Africa south of the Sahara, and South Asia from 1966 to 1969...
took command, who would hold command until 1969. Initially, STRICOM's assigned missions were to: (a) provide
a reserve of general purpose forces for reinforcing the other unified commands, (b) train the general reserve, (c) develop joint doctrine
Doctrine
Doctrine is a codification of beliefs or a body of teachings or instructions, taught principles or positions, as the body of teachings in a branch of knowledge or belief system...
and, (d) plan for and execute contingency operations. Subsequently, STRICOM's missions were expanded to include planning for, and execution of, operations in the Middle East, sub-Sahara Africa, and Southern Asia (MEAFSA).
STRICOM was redesignated United States Readiness Command (REDCOM) in 1972.
Essentially, the change was nothing more than a redesignation, except that the command was divested of its MEAFSA responsibilities. The redesignated command's missions included integrating, training, and providing CONUS-based general purpose forces, as well as planning and providing joint task force headquarters and forces for operations in areas not assigned to other unified commands. In 1979, the national command authorities ordered the CINC of REDCOM (CINCRED) to establish the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force (RDJTF) headquarters as a separate subordinate command within REDCOM. That same year, General Volney F. Warner
Volney F. Warner
Volney Frank Warner is a retired United States Army four-star general who served as Commander-in-Chief, United States Readiness Command from 1979 to 1981.-Early career:Warner was born in Woonsocket, South Dakota...
took command of REDCOM, and held command until 1981. The Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force became an independent unified command in 1983 as United States Central Command
United States Central Command
The United States Central Command is a theater-level Unified Combatant Command unit of the U.S. armed forces, established in 1983 under the operational control of the U.S. Secretary of Defense...
(USCENTCOM).
Readiness Command was replaced by United States Special Operations Command
United States Special Operations Command
The United States Special Operations Command is the Unified Combatant Command charged with overseeing the various Special Operations Commands of the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps of the United States Armed Forces. The command is part of the Department of Defense...
(USSOCOM) in 1987, with the last CINCRED, General James J. Lindsay
James J. Lindsay
General James Joseph Lindsay is a retired United States Army four star general, and served as the first commander of the United States Special Operations Command.Military career=...
, becoming the first CINCSOC.
Detachment 1, 1150th USAF Special Activities Squadron, also known as "Communications Support Element" or CSE, was subordinate to USSTRICOM and operated from MacDill AFB. CSE was about a 50–50 mix of Air Force and Army personnel. CSE consisted of two units – "A" unit and "B" unit – and was mainly a mobile tactical communications outfit.
Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Strike Command
| Date | Incumbent |
|---|---|
| 1961–1966 | GEN General (United States) In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, general is a four-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. General ranks above lieutenant general and below General of the Army or General of the Air Force; the Marine Corps does not have an... Paul D. Adams Paul D. Adams General Paul DeWitt Adams was a General in the United States Army.Adams was born in Heflin, Alabama. After graduating from Marion Military Institute in 1924, he entered the United States Military Academy and graduated in 1928, receiving his commission in the Infantry.He served with as executive... , USA United States Army The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services... |
| 1966–1969 | GEN Theodore J. Conway Theodore J. Conway Theodore John Conway was a United States Army four star general who served as Commander in Chief, United States Strike Command/U.S. Commander in Chief, Middle East, Africa south of the Sahara, and South Asia from 1966 to 1969... , USA |
| 1969–1972 | GEN John L. Throckmorton John L. Throckmorton General John Lathrop Throckmorton was born in Kansas City, Missouri on February 28, 1913. After graduating from Culver Military Academy in 1931 he attended and graduated from the United States Military Academy on June 12, 1935, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry.In World... , USA |
Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Readiness Command
| Date | Incumbent |
|---|---|
| 1972–1973 | GEN John L. Throckmorton John L. Throckmorton General John Lathrop Throckmorton was born in Kansas City, Missouri on February 28, 1913. After graduating from Culver Military Academy in 1931 he attended and graduated from the United States Military Academy on June 12, 1935, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry.In World... , USA |
| 1973–1974 | GEN Bruce Palmer Jr., USA |
| 1974–1979 | GEN John J. Hennessey John J. Hennessey John Joseph Hennessey was a United States Army four star general who served as Commander in Chief, United States Readiness Command from 1974 to 1979.-Military career:... , USA |
| 1979–1981 | GEN Volney F. Warner Volney F. Warner Volney Frank Warner is a retired United States Army four-star general who served as Commander-in-Chief, United States Readiness Command from 1979 to 1981.-Early career:Warner was born in Woonsocket, South Dakota... , USA |
| 1981–1983 | GEN Donn A. Starry Donn A. Starry General Donn Albert Starry was a United States Army four star general who served as Commanding General, United States Army Training and Doctrine Command from 1977 to 1981; and as Commander in Chief, U.S... , USA |
| 1983–1985 | GEN Wallace H. Nutting Wallace H. Nutting Wallace Hall Nutting is a retired United States Army four star general who served as Commander in Chief, United States Southern Command from 1979 to 1983 and as Commander in Chief, United States Readiness Command from 1983 to 1985.Nutting's military career began when he served in the Maine... , USA |
| 1985–1986 | GEN Fred K. Mahaffey Fred K. Mahaffey Fred Keith Mahaffey was a United States Army four star general who served as Commander in Chief, United States Readiness Command from 1985 to 1986. Considered a rising star in the Army, his career was cut short by cancer.-Military career:... , USA |
| 1986–1987 | GEN James J. Lindsay James J. Lindsay General James Joseph Lindsay is a retired United States Army four star general, and served as the first commander of the United States Special Operations Command.Military career=... , USA |