People tend to think of the military mainly in terms of defending against or otherwise dealing with external threats. But there is also a role for the military to play domestically under certain circumstances.
Here in Washington state, like others across the nation, the military can be tasked with working with civilian authorities in response to a range of potential disasters, from an earthquake and resulting tsunami to a terrorist attack.
In the event of such a catastrophe, area military assets will help to “re-establish life as you know it,” said Brig. Gen. Paul Gruver, director of the Joint Staff , Joint Force Headquarters, of the Washington National Guard at Camp Murray. He assumed his current position in March 2011.
Check out next week's Gateway to read more about what the U.S. Air Force general, who calls Gig Harbor home, had to say about the Washington National Guard's domestic operations and making sure the armed forces don't encroach upon civilian law enforcement duties.
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