Strategy Overview
Chapter 6: Theater Strategy
USCENTCOM's theater strategy is supported by the five pillars of Forward Presence, Exercises, Security Assistance, Power Projection, and Readiness to Fight
The U.S. Central Command's strategy envisions a smooth transition from peacetime operations through crisis management to warfighting. The Command's three-tiered approach to regional defense includes self-defense, regional collective security, and assistance from U.S. and other extra-regional powers, emphasizing burdensharing at each of these levels. Essential access is maintained through the pillars of forward presence, combined exercises, and security assistance. If potential aggressors cannot be deterred, USCENTCOM will rely on the two remaining pillars of power projection and readiness to fight. Through these USCENTCOM will assemble the requisite forces for first defensive, then offensive operations to achieve our military objectives. Key enabling requirements for successful execution of the Command's strategy include prepositioning ashore and afloat, strategic lift, security assistance programs, theater missile defense, C4I architecture, personnel, and R&D. A balanced combination of these allows USCENTCOM to apply the military portion of its national power as required to support U.S. policy in its area of responsibility.
