MILITARY PARTICIPATION IN EMERGENCY HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

Military forces of the United States and other countries possess train ing, equipment and capabilities that are suited for work in disaster p reparedness and assistance. Information on the use of military units i n domestic and foreign disaster-related efforts, particularly by Unite d States forces in the medical area, was obtained by review of the lit erature and unpublished military reports, and from interviews with peo ple who have been involved with disaster-related activities. The histo rical reasons for viewing United States forces as resources in disaste r situations are identified. Additionally, issues and problems related to disaster preparedness and assistance in general, and more specific ally, to the past and future use of military personnel for this missio n are examined. The need for a defined military mission for emergency humanitarian assistance and the need for a military organizational str ucture to support this mission are identified. Once these two critical issues have been properly addressed, the United States military shoul d participate in the establishment of a disaster institute for joint c ivilian-military disaster planning and training, in both domestic and foreign areas.