text: Appendix A
  the needs of all alliances and coalitions. Therefore, there are three types of basic structures for multinational
  operations:
  * Integrated.
  * Lead nation.
  * Parallel.
  A-35. Regardless of how a multinational force is operationally organized, each nation furnishing forces
  normally establishes a national component, often called a national command element, to ensure effective
  administration of its forces. The national component provides a means to administer and support the national
  forces, coordinate communication to the parent nation, tender national military views and recommendations
  directly to the multinational force command, facilitate the assignment and reassignment of national forces to
  subordinate operational multinational organizations, and maintain personnel accountability. In an
  administrative role, these national components are similar to a Service component command at the unified
  combatant command level in a U.S. joint organization. The logistic support element of this component is
  referred to as the national support element.
  Integrated Command Structure
  A-36. Integrated commands have representative members from the member nations in the command
  headquarters. Multinational commands organized under an integrated command help ensure the capabilities
  of member nations are represented and employed properly. A good example of this command structure is
  found in the North American Aerospace Defense Command (also known as NORAD), where the commander
  is American, the deputy commander is Canadian, and each of the regional commands has a commander and
  deputy commander from a different nation. In addition, the North American Aerospace Defense Command
  staff is binational.
  Lead Nation Command Structure
  A-37. A lead nation command structure exists when all member nations place their forces under the control
  of one nation. The lead nation command can be distinguished by a dominant lead nation command and staff
  arrangement with subordinate elements retaining strict national integrity.
  Parallel Command Structure
  A-38. Under a parallel command structure, no single force commander is designated. The multinational force
  leadership must develop a means for coordination among the participants to attain unity of effort. This can
  be accomplished through the use of coordination centers. Nonetheless, because of the absence of a single
  multinational force command, the use of a parallel command structure should be avoided if possible.
  COMMAND AUTHORITY
  A-39. The Army and joint force have doctrinal definitions for command and support relationships. However,
  these definitions and authorities only apply to U.S. forces. In multinational operations, each nation determines
  the authority it will delegate to multinational commanders for the employment of its forces. Each nation also
  establishes national caveats. Command authority for a multinational force command is normally negotiated
  between the participating nations and can vary from nation to nation. Command authority will be specified
  in the implementing agreements and may include aspects of OPCON, TACON, support relationships, and
  coordinating authority. A clear and common understanding of what authorities are specified in the
  implementing agreement is essential to operations. This is particularly important when similar terms have
  different meanings to the various participants. For example, both the U.S. and NATO use the term operational
  control and the acronym OPCON, but the authorities of U.S. OPCON are more encompassing than the
  authorities of NATO. (See Allied Tactical Publication 3.2.2 for NATO command and support relationships.)
  A-40. In many cases, coordinating authority may be the only acceptable means of accomplishing a
  multinational mission. Coordinating authority is a consultation relationship between commanders, not an
  authority by which command and control may be exercised. Normally, it is more applicable to planning than
  to operations. Use of coordinating authority requires agreement among participants, as the commander
  exercising coordinating authority does not have the authority to resolve disputes. (See FM 3-16 for further
  details on multinational operations.)