OPCON is exercised at which levels?

OPCON is exercised at which levels?

• A. At any echelon at or below the level of combatant command
• B. Only at the strategic level
• C. Only within a single service
• D. Only in peacetime

Answer: (A)

Operational control gives a commander the authority to organize and employ forces to accomplish assigned tasks, directing the actual execution of operations to achieve the mission. Because OPCON can be exercised at any echelon at or below the level of a combatant command, it applies from theater-level commands down to subordinate units and task forces under that command. It isn’t limited to the strategic level, nor to a single service, and it remains applicable in both peace and war. For contrast, TACON controls the use of forces for specific tasks but doesn’t confer the broad authority to organize and employ forces across a theater—the broader scope and flexibility of OPCON is what allows it to be exercised at multiple levels under a combatant command.

Operational control gives a commander the authority to organize and employ forces to accomplish assigned tasks, directing the actual execution of operations to achieve the mission. Because OPCON can be exercised at any echelon at or below the level of a combatant command, it applies from theater-level commands down to subordinate units and task forces under that command. It isn’t limited to the strategic level, nor to a single service, and it remains applicable in both peace and war. For contrast, TACON controls the use of forces for specific tasks but doesn’t confer the broad authority to organize and employ forces across a theater—the broader scope and flexibility of OPCON is what allows it to be exercised at multiple levels under a combatant command.