Creating a Coordinated Game Plan: Improving Teamwork between Law Enforcement and the California National Guard

摘要

The author of this thesis contends that the legislative mandate for National Incident Management System compliance has created an efficient and expeditious relationship between civil authorities and military resources, however a lack of information regarding each other's roles and capabilities, coupled with differences in culture, communications, logistics, and command and control structures has resulted in sub-par interaction in actual responses and exercises since the attacks of September 11, 2001. Emergency responders at the local and state level have frequent interaction, but clear protocols, guidelines and exercises are required to create the same level of teamwork with military assets. Because of the variety of controlling legislation and political priority governing each state's National Guard, this thesis offers recommendations for improving the interaction between California local authorities, the California National Guard, and the United States Northern Command.