Forgotten Mission: Military Support to the Nation

Abstract

Throughout U.S. history the military has been used to suppress insurrection and rebellion, enforce the law, and perform various other roles at the request of Federal, state, and local officials. The role of the Armed Forces in crises is mandated under the Constitution and has been exercised since the Shay Debtor Rebellion in 1786. While support to the Nation is often overshadowed by the high-profile role of defending it, military support is a critical, long-standing mission that continues to grow. This is revealed by the number and variety of domestic disasters and events to which the Department of Defense (DOD) has responded in recent years. Extensive support by the services and defense agencies is important to minimizing loss of life and property in a range of operations which frequently go unpublicized. This article outlines responsibilities for Federal support, the system which facilitates that support, and the extent of DOD assistance in selected domestic operations.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1997
Accession Number
ADA527337

Entities

People

  • David L. Grange
  • Rodney L. Johnson

Organizations

  • National Defense University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Active Duty
  • Air Force
  • Department Of Defense
  • Department Of Homeland Security
  • Disasters
  • Emergency Response
  • Employment
  • Engineers
  • Helicopters
  • Humanitarian Assistance
  • Law
  • Law Enforcement
  • Military Personnel
  • National Guard
  • Personnel Management
  • Task Forces
  • Weapons Of Mass Destruction

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.