---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 165"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "165"
heading: "Combatant commands: administration and support"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/165"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part I — Organization and General Military Powers"
  - "Chapter 6 — Combatant Commands"
---

# §165. Combatant commands: administration and support

- (a) **In General.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense, with the advice and assistance of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shall provide for the administration and support of forces assigned to each combatant command.
- (b) **Responsibility of Secretaries of Military Departments.—** Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense and subject to the authority of commanders of the combatant commands under [section 164(c) of this title](/usc/10/164.md?p=c), the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of a [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) is responsible for the administration and support of forces assigned by him to a combatant command.
- (c) **Assignment of Responsibility to Other Components of DOD.—** After consultation with the [Secretaries](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of the [military departments](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-8), the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense may assign the responsibility (or any part of the responsibility) for the administration and support of forces assigned to the combatant commands to other [components](/usc/10/3011.md?p=13) of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense (including [Defense Agencies](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-11) and combatant commands). A [component](/usc/10/3011.md?p=13) assigned such a responsibility shall discharge that responsibility subject to the authority, direction, and control of the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense and subject to the authority of commanders of the combatant commands under [section 164(c) of this title](/usc/10/164.md?p=c).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 99–433, title II, § 211(a), Oct. 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 1016.)