Strategic Value of Water to the National Guard
Abstract
Water's fundamental importance to national security is not well understood throughout the National Guard. The National Guard's primarily compliance-minded association with water requires a paradigm shift to that of water sustainability in order to fully support the National Guard of the future. Sources of water, its availability, and quality must be completely understood at the local level for the National Guard's success both in training and in times of disaster. Understanding the complex dimension of water governance, basic water concepts, water terms, its major consumers, as well as its direct connection with energy within every state and territory will enable the National Guard not only to be successful but be a resource (of information and plans) in times of disaster. Partnering with federal, state, and local water authorities as well as prior planning of this finite natural resource will not only allow the National Guard to complete its state and federal missions but will ensure that soldiers and airmen do not become victims of the disasters they are called upon to relieve. My philosophy for gathering this information is, "It is better for the National Guard to have planned and not need water plan than to react to an unplanned water crisis." It is not speculation that water in the next three or four decades, maybe sooner, will be at a crisis level in several areas within the United States unless drastic and unlikely steps are taken.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 04, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA545094
Entities
People
- Robert J. Mayberry Jr.
Organizations
- United States Army War College