Central Washington University Importance of Both ADF and the US Military Discussion

The use of the ADF and the U.S. military by both countries when it to comes to civil support are both the same as the government wants to limit the use of their military powers on homeland soil to a very minimal amount. For Australia to use the call out provision, there has to be a danger so imminent that their local forces can’t handle it. When it comes to civil threats like a terrorist attack, Australia uses mainly federal and state police forces because they will almost always be able to get to a terrorist scene more quickly than the ADF and are on a surer legal footing to undertake such operations. Unless the United States is being attacked or congress gives permission, active duty military will not be used in civil support. The U.S. workaround for this is the National Guard that is considered a unique state-based military force (although primarily funded by the federal government and trained in accordance with federal standards) that is the only military force shared by the states and the federal government. The basic plan of the National Guard is for governors to deploy them in both peacetime disasters and national security emergencies and, when federalized, shall be considered potentially available to provide military support of civil defense to civil authorities during a civil defense emergency.

Buchalter, A. R. (2007). Military Support to Civil Authorities: The Role of The Department of Defense in Support of Homeland Security. Retrieved from

http://loc.gov/rr/frd/pdf-files/CNGR_Milit-Support-Civil-Authorities.pdf

Sutton, J. (2017). The increasing convergence of the role and function of the ADF and civil police. Retrieved from

http://defence.gov.au/adc/adfj/Documents/issue_202/Sutton_July_2017.pdf