Military Capabilities and Domestic Terrorism

• NCJ Number: 192778
• Author(s): Bruce M. Lawlor
• Date Published: 2001
• Length: 7 pages
• Grant Number(s): 1999-MU-CX-0008
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice, Office of Justice Programs
• Corporate Author: Belfer Ctr for Science and International Affairs
• Sale Source: NCJRS Photocopy Services; Belfer Ctr for Science and International Affairs
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: January 25, 2002

Annotation

This article discusses how the National Guard and the Department of Defense (DOD) can assist civil authorities in dealing with the aftermath of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or high-yield explosive (CBRNE) incidents.

Abstract

The procedures used to obtain military support following a CBRNE incident are the same as those used to obtain support during natural disasters. Both the State and Federal Governments have military units able to provide a variety of capabilities. National Guard units operate under the control of State governors and possess many of the same capabilities as federal forces. During a national emergency National Guard units may be called into Federal service. If federalized they would fall under the command and control of the Commander in Chief of the United States Joint Forces Command. The National Guard is often permitted to carry out functions that Federal units are prohibited from performing, such as law enforcement activities or involuntary civilian evacuations. The State National Guard is the military’s first responder. In States that have a National Guard Weapons of Mass Destruction--Civil Support Team (WMD-CST), it will likely be one of the first military units to reach the scene of a CBRNE incident. The team’s mission is to assess a suspected incident, advise civilian first responders, and facilitate the introduction of follow-on State and Federal military support into the area. Federal military forces are brought in only when the incident exceeds the capabilities of the local and State governments and the State National Guard. At the Federal level, the Joint Task Force--Civil Support (JTF-CS) plans and integrates DOD’s support to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for CBRNE incidents, and assumes command and control of all responding Federal military forces in support of the lead Federal agency. The greatest challenge U.S. Joint Forces Command and JTS-CS face in providing military support to civil authorities during the aftermath of a CBRNE incident is time.