Homeland Defense Doctrine

The Pentagon recently issued a joint doctrine document for homeland defense "across the range of military operations."

The July 29 document "provides information on planning, command and control, interorganizational coordination, and operations required to defeat external threats to, and aggression against, the homeland, or against other threats as directed by the president." Further:

It sets forth joint doctrine to govern the activities and performance of the Armed Forces of the United States in joint homeland defense operations and provides the guidance for US military coordination with other US Government departments and agencies during operations and for US military involvement in multinational operations supporting homeland defense. It provides military guidance for the exercise of authority by combatant commanders and other joint force commanders (JFCs) and prescribes joint doctrine for operations, education, and training. It provides military guidance for use by the Armed Forces in preparing their appropriate plans. It is not the intent of this publication to restrict the authority of the JFC from organizing the force and executing the mission in a manner the JFC deems most appropriate to ensure unity of effort in the accomplishment of the overall objective.