An Examination of the Roles of Medical Units in Support of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, or Nuclear Event (Cbrn) Under Joint Task Force

Since the attacks of 9/11 and the subsequent creation of the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense (DoD) has struggled with its role in Defense Support to Civil Authorities. While most disasters can be handled by first responders in coordination with the state units of the National Guard a CBRN catastrophic attack could quickly overwhelm the resources that would trigger a large-scale response of the total force of the Department of Defense. The current framework, while adequate for most disasters affecting the nation, may prove to be insufficient due to lack of interoperability between military forces and assets supporting civil authorities. Statutory and organizational challenges prevent the designation fast, preparation and use of military medical forces in support of civil authorities, when a national disaster occurs specifically the medical units. These challenges are the result of laws that restrict the development of a proper command structure and operational requirements that impede the preparation for response to incidents receive appropriate care. Effective disaster response requires an effort of interagency cooperation between federal and state governments to anticipate and overcome the challenges before an event. The aim, therefore, is to demonstrate how the appropriate use of military medical resources, in close coordination with civil authorities, governmental and non governmental organizations in the planning and execution of a CBRN event can have a positive impact on the timely restoration government functions after an attack.