Potential Standards and Methods for the National Guard's Homeland Response Force
Abstract
In 2009, the Office of the Secretary of Defense directed the creation of 10 National Guard Homeland Response Force (HRF) units to provide regional chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) disaster response in each of the 10 FEMA regions beginning in September 2011. The HRF was selected to fill a regional CBRNE capability gap. The HRF concept is a 566-person National Guard unit tasked to provide command, CBRNE assessment, decontamination, casualty care, logistics, security, and rescue in support of civilian officials during a regional-level CBRNE event or disaster. With domestic response mission and overseas deployment requirements, the HRF faces the difficult challenge of meeting both civilian response and military battlefield standards. Although some DoD organizations have had similar domestic response missions, no precedent for the HRF exists. The HRF reflects an evolution of military units with CBRNE and disaster-related missions beginning in the 1990s. Government and private criticisms of these previous DoD CBRNE include wasted tax dollars, poor training strategies, and poor links to National Planning Scenarios. This thesis provides lessons learned from case studies of previous U.S. and Israeli CBRNE and disaster response organizations while recommending standards that the new HRF can use for improved implementation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA552301
Entities
People
- Christian M. Van Alstyne
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School