Command and Control - Coursework Example

Homeland Affiliation During an emergency response, it is important that all available resources are utilized in the response to save lives and property. The department of defense has resources important for utilization in support of prevention, protection against as well as recovery from incidences such as terrorism and major attacks. To include the DOD within an emergency response plan, a request may be done if where state, tribal, local, or other federal assets are absent (fully committed) or when there is a requirement for a capability that is unique to the Department of Defense.

A request for assistance because of an emergency, which might eventually qualify for assistance in accordance with the Stanford Act, may be done. The state governor of the state within which this incident has happened may request the president to give directions to the defense secretary to use the resources of the DOD to execute emergency work, which is necessary for life and property preservation (Burkett, 2009).2. The first priority of the state happens to its citizens in the case of terrorism.

In case terrorists are apprehended, all they are looking forward to is negotiation for their life safety or to make demands for whatever they had planned. It is important for an incident commander, to remember not to negotiate with the terrorists. The policy of the United States Counter-terrorist unit is that:(I) no contracts with terrorists as well as do not succumb to their blackmail (II) (II) terrorists have to be treated like criminals as they are, they should be aggressively pursued and the rule of law has to be applied(III) Maximum pressure has to be applied on sponsors of terrorism (Global Focus, 2015).

The government of the United States makes no concessions with persons trying to kill or hold American citizens hostage. As an incident commander, one is the United States government representative and should do everything and utilize every appropriate resource available to secure the American citizens held hostage. It is the policy of the United States government to refuse hostage takers and terrorist benefits of ransom, policy changes, and pioneer releases, as well as any other concession acts (Global Focus, 2015). 3. The department of defense happens to be within the federal response to local occurrences while the response of the Department of Defense is coordinated totally through mechanisms that are listed within the National Response Framework.

Within its provision for support during emergency responses, the command for the Department of Defense remains with the secretary of defense. However, the National Guard forces are under the governor’s control and command. Within NRF, nothing exists that hinders the statutory authority of the defense secretary as far as the resources, as well as DOD personnel, are concerned. Unity of command and command concepts has distinct meanings for military operations and military forces. For military forces who are deployed, the command will run all the way from the president to the defense secretary to the combatant commander to DOD on-scene commander.

This means that the incident commander is not in charge of the deployment of DOD personnel to strategic positions (FEMA, 2008).