DSCA Principles

What is Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA)?

DSCA is support provided by U.S. Federal Military Forces, DoD Civilians, DoD Contract Personnel, DoD Component Assets, and National Guard Forces (Title 32, U.S.C., status) in response to requests for assistance from civil authorities for domestic emergencies, law enforcement support, and other domestic activities, or from qualifying entities for special events.

DSCA Principles:

• DSCA is the DOD assisting Americans within US states and territories.
• DSCA is a Joint and Total Force mission conducted in an interagency environment
• DOD is in support of a Lead Federal Agency (LFA): FEMA for disasters, FBI and Secret Service for NSSE’s, National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) for wildland fires on federal lands
• Civil authorities are always in-charge
• DSCA is a temporary measure with available assets. Military readiness has priority
• DOD resources typically used for life saving and life sustaining ops, but there are exceptions
• Law enforcement activities are severely limited by law
• DOD relies on reimbursement for DSCA missions
• Resources are provided on validated requirements, not specific assets
• DoD does not compete with private enterprise

DSCA is....

• Assistance to American citizens within US territories.
• Military commanders assisting citizens under Mutual Aid Agreements or Immediate Response Authority.
• National Search and Rescue missions.
• Requests for Assistance (RFAs) to FEMA via Mission Assignments.
• RFAs to other federal departments (Wildfires, Special Security Events, Unaccompanied children).
• DoD is ALWAYS in support of domestic civilian authorities and initiated by request for assistance from proper civilian authority.
• Support is provided on a cost reimbursable basis through the Economy/Stafford Act
• The President can direct any federal agency to provide support on a non-reimbursable basis
• Used after local and state civilian resources are exhausted

DSCA is not....

• Homeland Defense
• Programs under separate mandates: Counter-Drug Operations, Intelligence support, Community Affair or IRT Projects, Technology Transfers
• Foreign Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief
• A simple chain of command or a clean organizational chart
• The DoD in charge; we don’t just “Do Missions”
• DO NOT precede Title 32 State National Guard Forces
• DO NOT circumvent statutory limits and authorities
• DO NOT become a logistics draw on locality and state
• DO NOT compete or take work from local populace