Discussion: Disaster Relief and the Military
Respond to Peer post in 150 Words
Peer discussion post:
In the past the National Guard has been used for disaster relief from fighting wildfires using specially modified C-130 aircraft, to helping evacuate people from rooftops and aiding in relief operations which was showcased during the Katrina Hurricane relief. Using the National Guard to assist state emergencies is very much normal and allowed by law. The Governor of the state in which the National Guard is mobilized in is absolutely allowed under the constitution. Other states can ask for assistance and in those instances the National Guard is able to be mobilized outside of their state of record under title 32 authorities. In 2020 many states such as Illinois mobilized their Guard force to assist with COVID-19 portocols. “The Illinois National Guard falls under the command and control of the governor of Illinois. So, when the governor calls in the National Guard, it means that the state pays for the soldiers and the use of the equipment. Sometimes there are other states that will need assistance. That’s done through agreements between the states.” (Jaffe 2020)
The Active Duty however, is a much different story. Active duty members cannot in theory be deployed within the United States under title 20 authority. The Active Duty can in some instances be deployed throughout the United States but only when certain criteria are met such as domestic threats. The Active Duty is more suited for deployment to assist with overseas relief. Overseas relief is a much more common use of the Active Duty such as when they deployed to assist with Haiti, Pakistan flooding, and Nepals major earthquake. These examples are far more normal for the active component of our military.
Mobilizing the National Guard: Logan Jaffe 17 Sept 2020, retrieved on 23 Sept 2022 from:
https://www.propublica.org/article/mobilizing-the-national-guard-doesnt-mean-your-state-is-under-martial-law-usually
