DoD Releases Homeland Defense, Civil Support Strategy

July 13, 2005

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) released Strategy for Homeland Defense and Civil Support, a document addressing DoD's roles in homeland defense and civil authorities support.

Strategy for Homeland Defense and Civil Support articulates strategic goals and objectives and provides direction to relevant homeland defense activities across the department. These activities include:

• Deterring and preventing attacks.
• Protecting critical defense and designated civilian infrastructure.
• Providing situational understanding.
• Preparing for and responding to incidents.

The strategy focuses on:

• Building needed transformational capabilities, enhanced maritime awareness and response capability.
• Strengthened allied contributions to collective security.
• Improved support to civil authorities.

Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England called the strategy, "the next significant milestone in reshaping the department's approach to homeland defense." The strategy "... constitutes the department's vision for transforming homeland defense and civil support capabilities and will improve significantly the department's ability to counter threats of the 21st century."

The strategy defines DoD's strategic objectives in a "lead, support, enable" framework.

The department has the lead role in providing for the defense of the U.S., is a government partner in providing support to civil authorities, and actively seeks to enable domestic and international partners to improve their homeland defense and homeland security contributions.

A PDF version of the strategy is available at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jun2005/d20050630homeland.pdf.

Source: U.S. Department of Defense.