These missions have included: responses to natural and man-made disasters, law enforcement support, special events, and other domestic activities.
[1] This directive defines DSCA as: Support provided by U.S. Federal military forces, DoD civilians, DoD contract personnel, DoD Component assets, and National Guard forces (when the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Governors of the affected States, elects and requests to use those forces in title 10, 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.
There are numerous other directives, policies and laws that shape the military's role in conducting operations in support of other federal agencies.
All federal agencies can request military assistance by using a simple memo format that contains specific information on what capability is needed and also gives cost reimbursement guidance.
Assistance is coordinated with the local responders in the disaster area to ensure the military support is being properly utilized as per the approved request.
Determining when the military is done conducting the requested support is done collaboratively between DOD officials, local government and federal agencies.
The military's budget does not include providing DSCA support so it must be paid back in order to maintain the ability to conduct its primary mission.
Requesting the military to respond to a disaster, manmade or natural, is done through a formal process established between FEMA and Department of Defense.
While this process is pretty straight forward, it has many integrated steps that require involvement from numerous sources, both military and civilian.
This underlying principle remains imbedded in the present laws, systems, and processes of how the military interacts within the DSCA environment.
(Naval forces of the Marines and Navy are prohibited by separate legislation and regulations from similar domestic law enforcement actions.