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Lesson 2 - The Department of Defense in Context

Introduction

The Department of Defense (DOD) has traditionally focused on conducting its missions outside the United States.  However, since 9/11 there has been a redefinition and renewed emphasis on domestic missions of homeland defense (HD) and defense support of civil authorities (DSCA).  Despite having the largest portion of the federal budget, DOD has responsibilities that outweigh its resources in terms of personnel and funding.  Accomplishing its domestic missions is further complicated by significant legal constraints, ranging from intelligence gathering, prosecution of law against U.S. citizens, and policies that restrict and define deployment (Supinski, NS 3181, n.d.). 
 
In this lesson we will examine the DOD in more detail beginning with Chapter 3 of our primary text. Here Neal Anderson (2014) tells us that an understanding and appreciation of DOD’s role in the homeland is essential for leaders within the national security apparatus. While Chapter 3 does place DSCA in a homeland defense and homeland security context, the focus of the chapter is on DSCA and how DOD works with stakeholders at all levels of government to accomplish its assigned missions in support of civil authorities.
 
You will also become acquainted with some of the roles, responsibilities, and functions of DOD and the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Global Security (formerly the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas’ Security Affairs).  Additionally, you will become familiar with the basics of the Unified Command Plan. Please pay particular attention to the roles and missions of the U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) (more on NORTHCOM later in the semester). Finally, we will look at how DOD builds the necessary coordination in an Interorganizational context, i.e., operations with other U.S. Government agencies; state, local, and tribal governments; intergovernmental organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector. Please see…make…the connection between Neal Anderson’s chapter in To Support and Defend and Joint Publication 3-08,Interorganizational Coordination.
 

Lesson Objectives:

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
  • Summarize the impact 9/11 had on how DOD thinks about homeland security, HD, and DSCA, as well as its more “traditional” pre-9/11 roles, missions, functions, organization, and capabilities.
  • Describe the unique American values, laws, culture, and traditions that guide the employment of the U.S. military in the homeland. 
  • Explain the opportunities and challenges that remain regarding the maturation of the homeland security enterprise and DOD’s place in it. 
  • Explain the basic organizational structure of DOD and how it coordinates critical support operations in response to an incident with other U.S. Government agencies; state, local, and tribal governments; intergovernmental organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector.  
  • Identify the U.S. Northern Command’s roles and responsibilities within the Unified Command Plan.

Please complete the assignments and readings outlined on the course schedule for this week.


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