Combined Joint Task Force 82 (CJTF-82)
Combined Joint Task Force 101 (CJTF-101)
Combined Joint Task Force 76 (CJTF-76)
Combined Joint Task Force 180 (CJTF-180)

Combined Joint Task Force 180 (CJTF-180) was formed in June 2002 as the forward headquarters in Afghanistan, commanded by a lieutenant general. Leadership of CJTF-180 changed in mid-April 2004 to the 25th Infantry Division (Light), resulting in a designator change to CJTF-76. The Southern European Task Force (SETAF) took control of CJTF-76 in March 2005. and the 10th Mountain Division (Light) again took command of CJTF-76 in February 2006, neither of which resulted in a designator change. The mission of CJTF in Afghanistan continued to be to conduct full-spectrum operations to prevent the re-emergence of terror organizations and set the conditions for the growth of democracy in Afghanistan.

In March 2007 the 82nd Airborne Division took control of the CJTF in Afghanistan, resulting in a designator change to CJTF-82. In addition to the previous responsibilities, the Commander of CJTF-82, a Major General, was also placed in charge of US Forces detailed to the NATO International Stabilization Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, and assumed the role of commander of ISAF Regional Command East. In April 2008, the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) took over control of the CJTF in Afghanistan from the 82nd Airborne Division, resulting in a designator change to CJTF-101.

This task force gives a single joint command responsible to USCENTCOM and to the Secretary of Defense for all military functions in the country. It establishes a full-time senior presence. The commander on the ground developed very close personal and professional relationships with Afghan military and political leaders, as well as senior members of the Afghan transitional authority.

CJTF-76 conducted stability operations within the CJOA in order to establish an Afghanistan able to deter or defeat the re-emergence of terrorism. The Mid-Term Strategic Objective was to establish environment sufficiently stable to facilitate reconstruction, development and growth of governmental and security institutions. The Long-Term Strategic Objective was a stable Afghanistan state that could govern itself and was inhospitable to terrorists. It would also be one that was non-threatening to, nor subject to pressure from, its neighbors and was a responsible member of the international community.

The April 2004 transition between the 10th Mountain Division and the 25th Infantry Division (Light) for responsibility of the Combined Joint Task Force 180 involved more than crowded dining facilities and gyms. Within the Joint Operations Center, members from each staff handed over lessons learned and standard operating procedures with the goal of the Tropic Lightning Division taking the reins of the operation within a few weeks. Although the transfer of authority involved the 25th Infantry Division and 10th Mountain. Division, CJTF-180 was composed of many other agencies from the Air Force, Navy and Marines, as well as other coalition partners.

Maj. Gen. Eric T. Olson, the 25th Infantry Division commander, assumed authority of Combined Joint Task Force 180 on 15 April 2004. Olson assumed authority over more than 13,000 personnel, representing more than 18 countries. Representatives from the various elements of the task force stood in formation on Bagram Air Base's Steel Beach. They gathered to honor Maj. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III and the rest of the 10th Mountain Division, who after nine months of official command and approximately 11 months in Afghanistan, were returning to Fort Drum, New York.

Exercise Unified Endeavor 10-17 January 2005 at Grafenwoehr Training Area in Germany marked the Southern European Task Force (SETAF) transformation to CJTF-76 in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan in support of OEF VI. The Southern European Task Force (SETAF) deployed to Afghanistan in support of OEF VI in the February-March 2005 timeframe.

The Theater Systems Integration Office - Europe (TSIO-E) provided IT planning and implementation support for the CJTF 76 in Afghanistan. Baghram Airfield Afghanistan, was the location of the existing Network Operations Center. This Center was initially staffed with 100 personnel. The NOC was continuously expanding and had at that point over 250 personnel. The NOC consisted of 10 SIPR and 7 NIPR Servers. An estimated 10 users connect to the network via Centrix. MS Exchange 5.5 was the primary Email System and DMS the Defense Messaging System was used for all classified email traffic. Under the auspices of the TSIO office, the CJTF 76 in Afghanistan had identified a requirement for Network Optimization and Business Continuance. An assessment of the existing Network Topology and Enterprise Infrastructure had to be completed before a suitable migration platform for CJTF 76 could be determined and then implemented. Consolidation was a complex initiative with multiple considerations that point to a methodological approach to the problem. Such considerations were; relatively large numbers of servers and applications would be involved; servers would be of many makes, sizes and configurations; application software characteristics would range from widely used and well known to local and poorly understood and consolidation targets could provide essential business functionality that had to be protected from disruption. Consolidation had to take place without imposing artificial limits on an organization's future ability to adjust to size, scope and direction of its business initiatives.

In 2003 a UN Security Council Resolution authorized the expansion of the UN mandated International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), led by NATO. ISAF expansion was completed by October 2006. US forces were contributed to ISAF, as well as Operation Enduring Freedom Afghanistan under CJTF-76. In March 2007 the decision was made to combine US forces in Afghanistan under ISAF and OEF-A into a single Combined Joint Task Force. The 82nd Airborne took responsibility of the new task force from the previous CJTF lead unit, the 10th Mountain Division (Light). The resulting CJTF-82 became responsible for all US personnel in Afghanistan, including US-led Provincial Reconstruction Teams. Control of the entire Provincial Reconstruction Team Program, originally created under OEF, was transfered to ISAF at the end of 2006. ISAF oversaw the military component of the PRTs. The Commander of CJTF-82 also became the commander of ISAF's Regional Command East, the primary location of US military forces in the country, one of two ISAF Regional Commands along Afghanistan's long border with Pakistan. The other, Regional Command South, was under a rotating command of forces from Canada, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. CJTF-82 (and later CJTF-101) also retained operation control of naval and air assets in neighboring countries (such as Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan) and bodies of water (such as the Indian Ocean).

According to the CJTF in Afghanistan, in 2007, the fourteen provinces in Regional Command East experienced significant growth, with improvements noted in all lines of operation: security, development, and governance. The greatest growth occurred in security, while progress in governance and development had the greatest impact. With the gap between popular expectations and government capacity widening, the information environment has become more critical. Initiatives by sub-national governments and security forces have preserved the population's support for the national government, while some villages have overtly rejected insurgent influence in favor of peace and prosperity.

Since the beginning of 2007, Afghans in Regional Command East saw an overall improvement in the security assessment for 5 of the 14 provinces. This improvement was a direct reflection of the increased capability of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). Afghan National Army (ANA) units were increasingly leading and planning operations; the population increasingly depends on the police for security, and regional security coordination centers are growing in capability. While enemy activity has increased, their effectiveness has been significantly degraded and overall impact on the daily life of Afghans remains low.

Progress in the fourteen provinces of Regional Command - East was undeniable. However, there was still much work to be done. The insurgency would remain viable into the foreseeable future, so attacks were expected to continue. Concurrent progress in governance and development was hoped to eventually render the enemy presence inconsequential, mirroring the initial mission of CJTF-180. Initiatives such as Focused District Development (FDD), the Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG), and Agriculture Development Teams (ADT) provided opportunities for continued growth in security, governance and development.

In April 2008, the 101st Airborne Division replaced the 82nd Airborne Division as the commanding element of the CJTF in Afghanistan. CJTF-101 was as of June 2008, made up of elements of a number of units including the 101st Airborne Division, 10th Mountain Division, and 27th Infantry Brigade of the New York National Guard.

In June 2009, the 82nd Airborne Division ressumed its role as the commanding element of the CJTF in Afghanistan, taking over for the 101st Airborne Division. CJTF-82 was as of October 2009, made up of elements of a number of units including the elements of the 82nd Airborne Division, .