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Email this citationCIAO DATE: 12/03
A Changing of the Guard: The U.S. National Guard and Homeland Defense
Jay Smith
May 2003
International Security Program
Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs (BCSIA)
Harvard University
Abstract
Since the September 11 attacks, the federal government has undertaken a fundamental review of the U.S. defense priorities. The terrorist strikes against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon exposed the extraordinary vulnerability of the U.S. homeland that some had warned against over the last several years. There is now widespread agreement that the threat of terrorist attack against the United States is likely to be a long-term reality. Given this situation, the Bush administration’s decision to reassess its policy on homeland security is wholly appropriate.
A key issue to be resolved during this review is the role of the U.S. military. The military is but one of a number of government agencies to be involved in securing the homeland, and within the military, different branches have distinct advantages that may be utilized. Overall, however, the National Guard seems most suitable for this mission. The Guard possesses the organizational structure, legal authority, and traditions that make it the logical choice for homeland security. Guard units are likewise generally well equipped to respond to catastrophic events such as terrorist attacks, while Guard personnel are much more familiar with the communities that they would likely be called to serve.
