The Unified chain is composed of elements from how many services and has what kind of command?

• A. One service; a single commander
• B. Two or more services; a single commander
• C. Two services; multiple commanders
• D. Three services; multiple commanders

Answer: (B)

Unified commands are formed when operations require forces from more than one service. In these commands, all forces from the different services operate under one commander, which ensures unity of command and coordinated planning and execution across services. Because of this single-commander structure, the unified chain is composed of elements from two or more services and is led by a single commander who directs all assigned forces. This differs from single-service commands, which involve only one service, or arrangements with multiple commanders, which would fragment authority. Examples like EUCOM and CENTCOM illustrate how diverse service components work under one commander to achieve unified, theater-wide objectives.