Essential Civil Support Tasks: Fid-Bau Portal

Essential Civil Support Tasks

C. D. Milliner

This study identifies essential civil support tasks to aid tactical units, specifically Brigade Combat Teams and Combined Arms Battalions, with Civil Support Operations. Civil Support Operations, an element of full spectrum operations, has four primary tasks: provide support for domestic disasters; provide support for domestic chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high yield explosive incidents; provide support for domestic law enforcement agencies; and provide other designated support. With 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina's impact; the high probability of future disasters; and the Army's mandate to save lives, alleviate suffering, and protect property; tactical units must prepare to execute civil support operations with the same vigor as offensive, defensive, and stability operations. Doctrine does not address civil support operations below the operational level of war in a comprehensive manner. This study describes emergency response principles, studies the Army's past tactical civil support operations, conducts a theoretical application, and recommends essential civil support tasks for tactical units. The essential civil support tasks will assist tactical units in preparing for and executing civil support operations.