“The 2nd Fleet command currently exists only on paper, but according to USNI News, a publication of the US Naval Institute, the command will open for business on July 1 with 11 officers and four enlisted personnel.
The command will eventually grow to 256 personnel — 85 officers, 164 enlisted and seven civilians — USNI reported, citing a memo signed earlier in the week by Navy Secretary Richard Spencer.”
But, but I thought a “fleet” had like a bunch of boats?
IIRC, the Navy’s Fleets are geographical commands. They “own” a chunk of ocean, and any ships operating in that chunk, are under their command.
Second Fleet- “owned” the North Atlantic
Fifth Fleet- Indian Ocean
Sixth Fleet- Mediterranean
Seventh Fleet- Western Pacific
A Fleet is like an Army HQs or an Air Force, a major combatant command, it is then made up of an actual flotilla of tools and people- Task forces and Squadrons etc, kinda like an Army is made up of Corps, Divisions, Brigades, battalions etc.
Our Joint Commands like CENTCOM, AFRICOM, EUCOM, PACCOM, NORTHCOM, SOUTHCOM (again, a staff for command and control) then ask for troops, planes, ships etc to execute the responsibilities given by the National Command Authority ( (Joint Chiefs/POTUS/Congress).
The Organizational Diagram of our military is found online if interested.
Think of a combatant command as a corporations executive Hqs, CEO, COO, CFO and staff, then add in the business functions like manufacturing, sales, logistics etc....
Fleets are planning, training and operational headquarters. They control the ships operating within their designated area. 2nd Fleet is the Atlantic. 6th Fleet is the Med. As ship heading to the Med for a deployment is under control of the 2nd Fleet until it passes Gibraltar, when it transfers to the 6th Fleet.
The US Army’s numbered field armies work the same way. Brigades and divisions can swing from one army to the other depending on the deployment.
