The Departments of Defense and Homeland Security - Paper Example

Topic 1: The Overall Concepts

In explaining the links between homeland security and homeland defense and how it concerns the homeland defense as well as national security, we have to define the missions, tasks, duties, responsibilities, operations, and resources of the body. Additionally, the process starts with defining the mission of homeland security and homeland defense. Homeland security refers to the concerted nationwide effort that aims at preventing acts of terrorism within Americas territories, reducing the Americas vulnerability to terrorism and reducing the damage as well as assisting in the recovery process in the case of terrorist attacks. Bowman (2003) adds that homeland defense refers to the protection of the domestic population, US territory as well as decisive defense infrastructure from external aggression and threats. This also includes routine, stable state activities that are designed to discourage aggressors as well as prepare the United States military forces to act in the case the deterrence fails to materialize.

The country securitys vision is to ensure the nation that is well-protected, secure as well as flexible against the fear that is based on oppression and various dangers. The homeland security and homeland defense procedure aims at achieving the vision of security, resilience as well as customs and exchange (Francis & Ginsberg, 2016). The three key ideas are meant to drive expensive action which Quadrennial Homeland Security Review (QHSR) prepared and in turn characterize as the security missions of the country. Additionally, the missions of the countrys security are endeavor broad, and not restricted to the Homeland Security as a department (Francis & Ginsberg, 2016). The missions, as well as their related destinations and objectives, enable us in knowing in detail preventing, to react, to ensure as well as to recuperate, besides the working in security to ensure flexibility as well as encourage trade and traditions within our country.

Moreover, homeland Security performs different roles or duties. The roles of homeland security include customs, immigration, FEMA, border patrol, decisive infrastructure protection, and law enforcement. Additionally, according to (DeMaso, 2004), Homeland Defense is made up of CBRNE Support, Coast Guard, armed conflict, and NORAD. Similarly, DeMaso (2004) adds that since the 9/11 terror/the September 11th attacks among other acts of terror which have taken place in the 21st century, America has been awake as it have realized the major security challenges facing the nation. Notably, homeland defense and homeland security show a relationship that is more about their roles and responsibilities in responding to crisis situations (DeMaso, 2004).

Majorly, the concept of homeland security and its relationship with national defense is primarily to protect the United States homeland front first. Homeland defense and homeland security has realized more attention than before because the variety of attacks and threats to the country has increased with time (Bullock, Haddow, & Coppola, 2017). The National Security Act that was enacted in 1947 led to the creation of National Security Council. This council was charged with mandate of advising the US President on matters of integration of the domestic, foreign as well as military policies that are related to national security (Francis & Ginsberg, 2016). The efforts will help the military services as well as other government agencies and departments in cooperating more effectively when it comes to matters that touch on national security.

However, one thing that is certain about the concepts of homeland defense and homeland security and national security is that they will experience continuous changes as the national disasters and terrorist threats occur or increase/change and the specific preferences for each presidential administration changes. Changes are bound to happen in the United States, and this will force the homeland security and homeland defense to adjust their plans and strategies as time goes on (Francis & Ginsberg, 2016). However, the homeland security remains to be the protection of Americas homeland and population from external threats and aggression. This entails more of the external attacks but also encompasses some security threats from within.

Topic 2: Overview of Our Nations Critical Infrastructure

In the United States, there are sixteen critical foundation parts and whose frameworks, systems, and advantages, whether virtual or physical, are considered to be very imperative to our country and that their decimation or weakening would critically affect the homeland security, homeland defense, and national security, among other aspects of national well-being or a mix thereof (Lewis, 2014; Bullock, Haddow, & Coppola, 2017). For instance, Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience advances a countrywide strategy to strengthen and view after secure, the effective and flexible fundamental framework.

The sectors are as follows:

Crisis Services Sector: Homeland Security is Emergency Services Sectors sector-specific agency. This division gives various varieties of readiness, avoidance, reaction as well as recuperation administrations along with both episode reaction and everyday operations (Lewis, 2014).

Compound Sector: The Homeland Security department is assigned to the Chemical Sector as the sector-specific agency.

Business Facilities: The Homeland Security department is regarded as the sector-specific agency for the sector of Commercial Facilities.

The Interchanges Sector: in Americas economy, Communications Sector becomes an indispensable part which is necessary for the operations of the government, open security corporations, and all the organization (Lewis, 2014). Homeland Security is a department that serves as the Communications Sectors sector-specific agency.

Basic Manufacturing Sector: Homeland Security department is the sector-specific agency for the Critical Manufacturing division.

Dams Sector: Homeland Security is assigned as the Dams Sectors the sector-specific agency. This sector involves ventures in dam, levees, route locks, mine tailings impoundments, and typhoon hindrances, among other relative water maintenance and many other control offices (Lewis, 2014).

Resistance Industrial Base: The United States Bureau of Defense is Defense Industrial Base Sectors Sector-Specific Agency. This Sector empowers advancement, creation, conveyance as well as support weapons frameworks, segments, subsystems, or parts to meet the United States military prerequisites (Lewis, 2014).

Vitality Sector: The United States energy foundation is the one that powers the 21st centurys economy. Department of Energy is designated as the Energy Sectors sector-specific agency.

Money Related Services: The Department of Treasury is designated as the Financial Services Sectors sector-specific agency.

Nourishment and Agriculture: The Agriculture and Health and Human Services departments are designated as the Food and Agriculture Sectors co-sector-specific agencies.

Government Facilities: The General Services Administration and Homeland Security are the departments charged with the role of acting as the co-sector-specific agencies for the Department of Government Facilities.

Human services and Public Health: The Health and the Human Services departments are the ones assigned to the Healthcare and Public Health division as its sector-specific agency.

Data Technology: Homeland Security department is recognized as the Information Technology divisions sector-specific agency.

Water and Wastewater Systems: The sector-specific agency for this sector is the Environmental Protection Agency.

Atomic Reactors, Materials, and Waste: Homeland Security department is assigned as the Nuclear Reactors, Materials, and Waste segments sector-specific agency.

Transportation Systems: Homeland Security and Transportation are the departments designated as the Transportation Systems segments co-sector-specific agencies.

References

Bowman, S. (2003) Homeland Security: The Department of Defenses Role. Retrieved from http://fas.org/man/crs/RL31615.pdf

Bullock, J., Haddow, G., & Coppola, D. P. (2017). Homeland security: the essentials. Butterworth-Heinemann.

DeMaso, W, Lt Col (2004) The Relationship Between Homeland Security Defense and Homeland Security: U.S. Northern Commands Rubiks Cube.

Francis, K. A., & Ginsberg, W. (2016). The Federal Cybersecurity Workforce: Background and Congressional Oversight Issues for the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security.

Lewis, T. G. (2014). Critical infrastructure protection in homeland security: defending a networked nation. John Wiley & Sons.