One of six geographically based Unified Combatant Commands in the Department of Defense, United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) was established on 25 April 2002, the same date that a new Unified Command plan was approved by President George W. Bush. USNORTHCOM’s area of responsibility (AOR) consists of the continental United States, Canada, Mexico, The Bahamas, Virgin Islands (U.S. and British), Puerto Rico, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Because it also include approaches by land, sea, and air, it is also responsible for activities in the Gulf of Mexico and the Florida Straits.
In addition to Joint Task Forces, USNORTHCOM also exercises command and control over components representing four branches of the Armed Forces of the United States: U.S. Army North (formerly Fifth Army), First Air Force (also known as CONR-AFNORTH, for CONUS Region-Air Force North), U.S. Naval Forces Northern Command, and the United States Marine Corps Reserve. It also commands two sub-unified Commands: Special Operations Command-North and Alaskan Command.
The USNORTHCOM Commander is dual-hatted, also serving as Commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). Both commands are headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado. About 1,200 civilians and military personnel serve at USNORTHCOM’s headquarters.
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United States Northern Command ID Badge
U.S. Army Element, United States Northern Command Patch (SSI)
U.S. Army Element, United States Northern Command Unit Crest (DUI)