The Defense Department on Friday released an updated version of its homeland defense strategy that emphasizes two core missions, defending the nation’s territory from direct attacks and supporting civil authorities.
The priority mission is defending the nation against attacks by state and non-state actors through two main objectives, countering air and maritime threats at safe distances and preventing terrorist attacks on the homeland by supporting law enforcement, says the 28-page strategy document, Strategy for Homeland Defense and Defense Support of Civil Authorities.
The core capabilities required for the homeland defense mission include things such as persistent awareness of the air and maritime domains, responsive air defense and maritime forces, actionable intelligence on terrorist threats, countering improvised explosive devices, preventing terrorists from using weapons of mass destruction in the United States, rapidly obtaining, analyzing and disseminating threat information, countering inside threats, and promoting dual-effect military training.
The second priority is support of civil authorities in the event of catastrophic domestic events, with two key objectives being to maintain chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear preparedness and to develop plans and procedures to ensure such support during complex catastrophes. The core capabilities to carry out the domestic support mission include being able to rapidly deploy CBRN response forces, having an immediate response authority for catastrophes, having forces in various areas of the country to react as needed, and having access to non-National Guard Reserve forces.