The Army's Role in Homeland Security
Abstract
There is role for the Army in homeland security. That role is one of support to civil authorities at local, state, and federal levels. The events of 11 September 2001 were the catalyst to start a process of developing a formal approach to securing America's homeland. Trying to define what homeland security means to each agency and governmental entity is important to determine the security tasks the Army will support in this arena. Once the definitions are in place - Army forces, which can best support homeland security, more clearly fall out. In a likely outcome, the Army National Guard will assume the greatest share of the Army's contribution to domestic security. To do so the Army National Guard must change to assume the new role in homeland security. Currently, the Army National Guard is not able to meet the traditional role of supporting the active forces, as well as, fulfill the support role to civil authorities in homeland security. In the process of transformation by reducing support to the Active force and focusing on homeland security, the Army National Guard will optimize the Army's commitment in homeland security. Any change to the National Guard will take political action, which means, in the final analysis, politics will determine a final homeland security role for the Army.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 09, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA402057
Entities
People
- Daniel J. Shanahan
Organizations
- United States Army War College