U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM)

DOD has often referred to the INDOPACOM AOR as the departments priority theater. The 2022 National Defense Strategy states the most comprehensive and serious challenge to U.S. national security is [China]'s coercive and increasingly aggressive endeavor to refashion the Indo-Pacific region and the international system. DOD has also identified regional threats from Russia and North Korea. As of September 2023, most of the active-duty U.S. servicemembers assigned to locations in the INDOPACOMAOR were based in Japan (53,246), Hawaii (44,545), South Korea (24,159), and Guam (6,363). DOD operates or has access to over 40 military sites in the region. U.S. forces based at these sites comprise ground units (including the Army's 2nd Infantry Division and the Marine Corps III Marine Expeditionary Force), naval warships (including an aircraft carrier, destroyers, cruisers, and amphibious assault ships), and aircraft (including rotary-wing, fighter, electronic attack, bomber, airlift, and tanker units).INDOPACOM is commanded by a four-star general or flag officer. To date, all commanders have been Navy admirals; the current commander is Admiral John Aquilino. INDOPACOM encompasses five subordinate service component commands (U.S. Army Pacific, U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. Marine Forces Pacific, U.S. Pacific Air Forces, and U.S. Space Forces Pacific) and three subordinate unified commands (U.S. Forces Japan, U.S. Forces Korea, and Special Operations Command Pacific). INDOPACOM routinely participates in multinational exercises and other security cooperation activities with regional partners.