Homeland security in the American perspective refers to the national effort vital in trying to put a stop to terrorist attack in the entire of United States of America. In response to the September 11 attack, the United States federal government introduced the department of the Homeland security. The primary responsibility of this department is to primarily guarantee protection of the United States and its neighboring territory against the terrorists attack natural disaster and man-made accidents (Chertoff & Project Muse, 2009). The mission of the establishment this department is to prepare in advance, prevent and respond immediately to the diverse domestic emergencies especially those arising from the terrorism. There exists a link between Homeland Security strategic planning and the mission in the sense that both focus on providing adequate protection to the people.
The Quadrennial Homeland Security Review (QHRS) refers to a congressionally mandate that is vital in scrutinizing and assessing the strategies and policies of the Department of Homeland Security. The Quadrennial Homeland Security Review always releases the report after a period of four years just to ensure that the Homeland security department undertakes its required duties (Bullock, Haddow & Coppola, 2012). The completion of the required goals only takes place with the implementation of the required strategic plans. The QHSR also plays the role of identifying the threats facing the nation and the fundamentals vital in achieving national security. In assessing and reducing the threats facing the United States it ensures that the long-range planning efforts.
The current state of national-level homeland security does not only to offer protection to the American citizens but also prevent attacks from taking place. It also aims at ensuring that America and its borders is safe (White, 2012). In preventing the national security, the department of the homeland security has made it possible for the defense force to utilize the readily available accessories to provide security. For instance, the Department of Homeland Security absorbed the immigration and neutralization services. This made it possible for the organization to account for all immigration processes in the nation (Chertoff & Project Muse, 2009). Americans suffered terrorist attacks because of intrusions of aliens on the nation. For this reason, people leaving and entering the United States must verify their identities to reduce insecurity.
The national-level homeland security strategic planning has evolved significantly ever since the September 11 attacks. The Department of Homeland Security has not only focused on the offering protection to the people but in addition to educate the Americans on the importance of the personal and individual security. In the previous years, the Department of Homeland Security relied on the defense department to offer protection to the people using the military forces (Bullock, Haddow & Coppola, 2012). However, in the present years, the department has tried to ensure that all the citizens of America have adequate information concerning personal safety. The American citizens also play a significant role in ensuring that the terrorists have limited access to the government resources (Bullock, Haddow & Coppola, 2013). In assisting the government in revealing the presence of the terrorist, the Americans participate fully in enforcing the highest level of security.
The department-level homeland security strategic planning has evolved drastically since the launching of the Department of Homeland Security. The department strategic planning has evolved in the sense that the border security both comprising of the land, country border and maritime time have enough soldiers to offer protection (White, 2012). The level of security at the boarders has improved hence ensuring that all the people moving in and out of the give full personal details. Homeland Security has also applied the use of the radioactive and radiological detection especially in most of the largest infrastructures in the major towns.
Before entering or leaving most of buildings in the developed nations, it is essential that the people go through the radiological and radioactive detection machines. This assist in ensuring that all the people accessing the infrastructure are not in possession of explosive such as bombs that might contribute to huge damage (Chertoff & Project Muse, 2009). The linkage between the departmental-level Department of Homeland Security and the national-level homeland has improved since the two sides have to interrelate to increase efficiency and effective in delivering protection to the Americans (Bullock, Haddow & Coppola, 2013). Before implementing any plan, the two parties always coordinate to ensure that the plans favor the interest of the American safety.
The five most significant concepts that the coworkers need to remember is the fact that the department offers protection to the country and its territory. The Department of Homeland Security also works in preventing incidents of terrorism in America. The key components of the Department of Homeland Security encompass of the departmental-level and the national level homeland (Bullock, Haddow & Coppola, 2013). Unlike Department of Defense, that works within the boundary of the United States alone, the department of homeland security works in the civilians sphere with the agenda of offering protection within America and the surrounding boarders.
- Bullock, J. A., Haddow, G. D., & Coppola, D. P. (2012). Introduction to homeland security: Principles of all-hazards risk management. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann.
- Bullock, J. A., Haddow, G. D., & Coppola, D. P. (2013). Homeland security: The essentials. Waltham, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann.
- Chertoff, M., & Project Muse. (2009). Homeland security: Assessing the first five years. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.
- White, J. R. (2012). Terrorism and homeland security. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
