by Tech. Sgt. John Gordinier
ALCOM/JTF-AK Public Affairs
2/20/2014 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- It
happened in 1964 and it could happen again; a massive earthquake
causing destruction, tsunamis, utilities and communications failures.
For the 50th anniversary of the 9.2 magnitude earthquake, thousands of
local, state and federal personnel will participate in a cooperative
exercise called Alaska Shield March 27 - April 3.
The exercise scenario will mirror a situation similar to the events of the Great Alaskan earthquake of 1964.
The federal support of this exercise is known as Exercise Arctic Edge
14, which provides an opportunity for U.S. Northern Command, Joint Task
Force - Alaska and supporting military units to practice emergency
response procedures in conjunction with federal, state and local
agencies.
If a state disaster occurs, when can DoD assist?
During natural disasters, DoD assets are employed to assist civil
authorities only upon request and this support is called Defense Support
of Civil Authorities or DSCA.
The DoD maintains many capabilities and resources that can be made
available upon request of the governor of a state or territory, said
Col. Kevin Masterson, U.S. Northern Command liaison officer to Joint
Task Force - Alaska. If an incident occurs that exceeds or is
anticipated to exceed state, local, or tribal resources, the federal
government may provide resources and capabilities to support the
response upon approval from the Secretary of Defense.
"DSCA is bringing military forces to bear, not in an offensive
capability within the U.S., but in a support capability after a
disaster," Masterson explained.
During DSCA, resources and capabilities can include logistics, command
and control, search and rescue, emergency management, medical,
communications and planning to name a few, he added. Civil authorities
only ask for assistance when local and state resources and capabilities
are exhausted because DoD assets are expensive.
"The Federal military is very expensive, so they are the last in and the
first out," Masterson said. "When there is no more lifesaving or
serious property damage to be prevented, or when local and State
agencies have the ability to sustain life, DSCA will stand down."
DSCA is a unity of effort benefit and during the exercise another unity
of effort benefit will be exercised--the Dual Status Commander.
A Dual Status Commander is typically a senior National Guard officer who
may serve in two statuses simultaneously, Federal and State. The State
governor can appoint a DSC for his or her State with approval of the
Secretary of Defense. In State status, the DSC is a member of the State
chain of command and, on their behalf, exercises command of assigned
State National Guard forces. In Federal status, the DSC is a member of
the Federal chain of command and, on their behalf, exercises command of
assigned Federal military forces.
Currently, there are three that have the training in the State of
Alaska, Masterson said. For this upcoming exercise, one will be chosen
to be the DSC.
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