New Law Authorizes Reservists to Respond to Disasters in U.S.
Reserves have historically been prohibited from most domestic disaster response
By Donna Miles American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, May 15, 2012 – New authority in this year’s Defense Department authorization act allows the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps reserves to be called to duty in response to natural disasters or emergencies in the homeland, and also to be mobilized for extended periods to support theater security missions around the world. Except for a crisis involving a weapon of mass destruction, the reserves historically have been prohibited from providing a homeland disaster response, Army Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, the Army Reserve chief, told reporters yesterday. That job was reserved for the National Guard, which state governors could call up as needed to support civil authorities. If …
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