JOPES and CAS Systems - Essay Example

JOPES and CAS systems Based on the IP-3000 PowerPoint Slides, the Joint Operations Planning and Execution System or JOPES is “the principal system within the Department of Defense for translating policy decisions into OPLANs, CONPLANs, Functional Plans, and OPORDs in support of national security objectives” (Slide 7). It is described to be involving communications, data processing, trained personnel, and procedures and directives (IP-3000, 2003, Slide 63). The CAS or Crisis Action System can be described as an approach or basic policy to addressing crises. 1. How will the CAS be used to support a contingency response to a terrorist act?

A crisis action system or CAS facilitates a quick response to a terrorist act by providing a menu of procedures or planned-in-advanced responses to anticipated terrorist acts based on terrorist actions in the past, forecast or predictions on their possible and probable movements and actions, and intelligence information. It provides a way for security planners to respond quickly instead of being immobilized by deliberations and decision-making processes on acts that have been anticipated. Of course, during the response, security planners and leaders must monitor the acts of terrorism and produce more applicable and more detailed responses based on the actual turn of events---especially on the turn of events that have not been anticipated----but a planned response could save time as well as lives.

A crisis action system or CAS may indicate the applicable chain of command under a situation considered as a crisis. Based on the PowerPoint Slides of the Joint Staff (2001, Slide 3), a crisis is “an incident or situation involving a threat to the United States, its territories, citizens, military forces, possessions, or vital interests that develops rapidly and creates a condition of such diplomatic, economic, political, or military importance that commitment of U.S. military forces and resources is contemplated to achieve national objectives.

” It follows from the definition that commitment of U.S. military forces and resources are involved in the crisis being discussed. The definition implies, of course, that the discussion of the applicable chain of command is highly relevant in a crisis and this is addressed in the Joint Staff (2001) material. Time is also an important dimension of a crisis as suggested by the phrase “that develops rapidly.” 2. How are agencies tasked to respond to a terrorist act? Agencies respond to a terrorist act independently under a unified command as well as in “inter-agency” manner.

Independent action means that agencies fulfill the mandates or the standing directives or functions of their agencies. These functions are distinct from the other agencies and, thus, their distinct functions provide the basis for agency independent action. Yet, at the same time, coordination is necessary and the coordination is provided by an interagency organization. In addition to coordination, joint operations can be conducted in which various agency groups perform the same or similar tasks/specific mission or sub-component or units of each agency integrate their manpower with other agencies to form larger groups that are more potent for specific tasks. 3. Is DHS the primary or supporting agency in a terrorist response operation?

Based on Knight (2008), the Department of Homeland Security is the primary agency in terrorist response operation in the United States Northern Command or NORTHCOM. The NORTHCOM “has an area of responsibility that includes the continental United States, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, and surrounding waters out to approximately 500 nautical miles, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Straits of Florida” (Knight, 2008, Summary page). In other words, NORTHCOM is the unified command structure for the area.

The NORTHCOM commands and controls the Department of Defense’s homeland defense participation and “coordinate military support to civil authorities” (Knight, 2008, Summary page). NORTHCOM’s relates with the Department of Homeland Security the Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA) mission” (Knight, 2008, CRS-4). NORTHCOM participates in the Joint Interagency Coordination Group and “maintains strong relationships with the Department of Homeland Security and the National Guard” (Knight, 2008, CRS-4).

Meanwhile, the Department of defense makes a distinction between “homeland security” and “homeland defense” (Bowman, 2003, CRS-1). Homeland security is “a concerted national effort to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce the vulnerability of the United States to terrorism, and minimize the damage and assist in the recovery from terrorist attacks” (Bowman, 2003, CRS-1). On the other hand, homeland defense is “the military protection of the United States territory, domestic population, and critical defense infrastructure against external threats and aggression” (Bowman, 2003, CRS-1).

Further, homeland defense includes “routine, steady state activities designed to deter aggressors and to prepare U.S. military forces for action if deterrence fails” (Bowman, 2003, CRS-1). According to Bowman (2003, CRS-2), in homeland security, “DOD will operate only in support of a civilian lead federal agency when needed, while the larger area of homeland defense it views as its primary mission.” Thus, based on this discussion, it follows that indeed the Department of Homeland Security or DHS is the lead agency when it comes to responding to terrorism within the context of homeland security.

Otherwise, when external threats and aggression are involved in the terrorist activity, the Department of Defense assumes the leading role. References Bowman, S. (2003). Homeland security: The Department of Defense’s Role. US Congress: Congressional Research Service. Joint Forces Staff College. (2006). Crisis action planning. United States National Defense University: Joint Forces Staff College. Accessed 2 July 2012 from www.jfsc.ndu.edu Joint Staff. (2001). Joint operation planning and execution system (JOPES). Volume 1. Washington: Joint Staff.

Accessed 2 July 2012 from http://reedline.com/Portal/Materials/CJCSM_3122.01_JOPES_Vol_1.pdf Knight, W. (2008). Homeland security: Roles and missions for the United States Northern Command. US Congress: Congressional Research Service. IP-3000. (2003). Joint operations planning & execution system (JOPES). Powerpoint Slides. United States of America: Department of Defense