Navy Warfare Development Command Updates Defense Support to Civil Authorities Handbook
08 June 2018
NORFOLK, Va. -- Navy Warfare Development Command (NWDC) has incorporated lessons learned from the Navy-Marine Corps response to last year's series of devastating storms in a substantial update to NWDC's Defense Support for Civil Authorities (DSCA) Handbook / Quick Reference Guide.
The DSCA Handbook provides key elements from Joint and Navy doctrine, as well as contact information and other useful references for commanders and units.
NWDC's Focused Collection and Analysis Team (FCAT) actively collected data and operational level lessons from DSCA operations in response to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. FCAT members embedded at the United States Fleet Forces / Commander, Task Force 80 (CTF-80) Maritime Operations Center (MOC) to observe, gather information, and interview personnel.
In addition, the FCAT deployed a team to embark with the Expeditionary Strike Group 2 (ESG-2) in USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) off the coast of Puerto Rico. The team interviewed key personnel, including the commanders and commanding officers of the staffs, ships, and aircraft squadrons providing relief to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The FCAT also met with the Commanders, Carrier Strike Group 10 (CSG-10) and CSG-12, and their key staff to capture lessons from their DSCA operations off the coast of Florida.
Throughout more than nine weeks of naval support to the victims of the 2017 hurricanes, observers found Sailors and Marines displayed exceptional ingenuity in order to meet the Joint Force Maritime Component Command Commander's Intent safely and effectively. Despite the catastrophic damage to infrastructure, first responding units issued, coordinated, and tracked mission tasks, managed airspace, and worked with other services and agencies in the area. Sailors and Marines exercised effective risk management under extremely challenging circumstances to save lives, mitigate human suffering, and restore critical infrastructure to enable civil authorities in affected areas.
NWDC's full report of the 2017 Navy DSCA Response, the DSCA Handbook / Quick Reference Guide, and lessons from previous hurricanes are available to Common Access Card holders in the Navy Lessons Learned Information System at
https://www.jllis.mil/apps/?do=cops.view&copid=402.
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