Relationships between U.S. and NATO Military Command Structures--Need for Closer Integration

The United States participates in two commands in Europe, its own and NATO's Allied Command, Europe. The command structures are similarly organized and have basically the same overall mission, to provide a combat-ready force to deter aggression from the Warsaw Pact nations. The close relationship of the commands is illustrated by: (1) several U.S. commanders are also NATO commanders; (2) NATO would assume operational command of U.S. combat forces in a NATO war; and (3) NATO is heavily staffed with U.S. personnel in peacetime.