The idea of ​​the combatant command structure first emerged during World War II with the creation of several geographic operational theaters composed of militant forces from different services. A single general or admiral was appointed as the sole commander appointed by the President of the United States and was supported by a joint staff. With the implementation of the Goldwater Nichols Act of 1986, COCOM commanders gained non-transferable command authority over several service forces directly to the Secretary of Defense. Today there are 6 geographic commanders made up of the new member: United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM), US Central Command (USCENTCOM), US European Command (USEUCOM), US Northern Command (USNORTHCOM), US Pacific Command (USPACOM), and US Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM). There has been numerous criticisms and discussions about the structuring and organization of combatant commanders. Discussions were made about personnel and budget constraints for peacetime efforts and the need for ongoing assistance. This essay will analyze the structure of COCOM using a SWOT analysis to examine both the internal and external points of the different commands and the overall effects COCOM has on the world. This essay will ultimately offer a structure change that would benefit the organization. SWOT analysis is an acronym for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. The idea of ​​this rating was developed by a man named Albert Humphrey in the 1960s. His team of researchers at the Stanford Research Institute originally developed a long-term business planning model called SOFT which stands for Satisfactory, Opportunity, Defect,...... half of the document ......N Douglas M. “SOUTHCOM Posture Statement. ” Washington, DC, March 6, 2012. Andrew Feickert, “The Unified Command Plan and Combatant Commands: Context and Issues for Congress,” Congressional Research Service, November 7, 2011, 60. Kniskern and Ducey, “SWOT and Assessment Methodology structured,” 7.GEN James N. Mattis, “Statement: Commander of United States Central Command before the Senate Armed Services Committee,” Washington, DC, March 6, 2012, 6.Stavridis, “EUCOM Posture Statement” 60 .Ibid., 60GEN Douglas M. “Southcom Posture Statement. 24.Feickert, “The Unified Command Plan and Combatant Commands,” 64.U.S. Government Accountability Office “Defense Management: Southern Command Demonstrates Interagency Collaboration, But Its Response to the Haiti Disaster Revealed Challenges in Conducting a Large Military Operation,” GAO-10-801, July 2010, 25.