text: Chapter 2
  2-56. Although the ABCANZ Armies Program is not a formal alliance nor has an ABCANZ force ever been
  employed, these armies have invested decades of research and collaboration to develop and update agreed-
  to standards to enable interoperability. In developing interoperability SOPs, units use available ABCANZ
  standards as their source material. Sometimes they use another source if the unit is subordinate to a combatant
  command with specific interoperability guidance and agreed-to standards (such as United States Army,
  Europe and Africa Command [known as USAREUR-AF] aligned to NATO STANAGs or U.S. Eighth Army
  in Korea).
  UNITED NATIONS OPERATIONS
  2-57. In UN operations, a single commander employs the force. The Secretary General appoints the force
  commander with the consent of the UN Security Council. The force commander reports to the UN Secretary
  General or a special representative and has wide discretionary powers over day-to-day operations. The force
  commander refers all policy matters to the UN Secretary General or special representative to resolve.
  2-58. Most national authorities that provide forces to multinational operations assign national forces under
  operational control of the multinational force commander. A smaller nation commits its force’s operational
  control to a larger force. The larger force is then under the multinational force commander’s operational
  control. Caveats qualify these forces from the respective nations according to national policies. The
  multinational force commander’s additional assignments to Service component commanders in an
  operational control status are subject to approval by the respective national governments.
  2-59. The parent national commander retains the command less operational control of the national forces.
  The designated national commander of the respective nations in the multinational force exercises this
  command less operational control. The multinational commander and national commanders discuss and
  clarify their mutual understanding of the command authorities they receive. This clarification ensures they
  share a common understanding of those authorities. It also precludes potential misunderstandings.
  2-60. For Army forces, the U.S. commander retains command over all assigned U.S. forces in multinational
  operations. The U.S. chain of command runs from the President through a combatant commander to a U.S.
  national commander. The chain of command, from the President to the lowest U.S. commander in the field,
  remains inviolate.
  MULTINATIONAL FORCES CONTROL
  2-61. Liaison networks and coordination centers improve control of multinational forces. Liaison officers
  come from the major troop contributing nations, close allies who routinely communicate directly with U.S.
  and other regional commanders, and the multinational operations commander. Meetings, boards, and
  conferences help integrate operations in the multinational force. Effective liaison networks are vital in any
  coalition. Differences in doctrine, organization, training, equipment, and national law demand a robust liaison
  structure to facilitate multinational operations. The use of the liaison networks is an invaluable human and
  procedural dimension tool and a significant source of information for the coalition staff and commander.
  Liaison Network
  2-62. Regardless of the command structure, effective liaison is vital in any multinational force. Using a
  liaison proves invaluable to build confidence between the multinational force and subordinate commands. It
  also—
  • Fosters a better understanding of mission and tactics.
  • Facilitates the transfer of vital information.
  • Enhances mutual trust.
  • Develops an increased level of teamwork.
  2-63. A liaison supplies significant information for the multinational force headquarters about subordinate
  force readiness, training, and other factors. Early liaison establishment reduces the fog and friction caused
  by incompatible communications systems, doctrine, and operating procedures. Units should provide only the
  best officers and noncommissioned officers as liaison officers because their quality directly affects operations
  and perceptions about Army forces.