Asset protection : A mission for the national guard

ABSTRACT

Presidential Executive Order 12656 assigns certain responsibilities to the various Federal department and agencies. The program developed by the Department of Defense (DoD) to meet the requirements of the Executive Order is the DoD Key Asset Protection Program. One of the primary players in this program is the National Guard Bureau and the national Guard in each state. The national Guard has a major role in support of state emergencies beyond this important federal mission. A key example of the different types of missions conducted by State National Guard was seen during the recent Los Angeles riots. The supporting role that the National Guard has in each state is vital to the security of that state and the national level. The proposed cutbacks for the National Guard poses a question that remains to be answered, " What is the impact that this reduction will have on the emergency response capabilities of that state?" (AU)