United States Northern Command
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United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM, or informally just NORTHCOM) is a Unified Combatant Command of the United States military.
Created in October 1, 2002 in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, its mission is to protect the United States homeland and support local, state, and federal authorities. The support that USNORTHCOM provides to civil authorities is limited by the Posse Comitatus Act which limits the role of the U.S. military in civil law enforcement.
USNORTHCOM’s Area of Responsibility (AOR) includes air, land and sea approaches and encompasses the continental United States, Alaska, Canada, Mexico and the surrounding water out to approximately 500 nautical miles (930 km). It also includes the Gulf of Mexico and the Straits of Florida. The defense of Hawaii and US territories in the Pacific is the responsibility of U.S. Pacific Command. The defense of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands is the responsibility of U.S. Southern Command. The commander of USNORTHCOM is responsible for theater security cooperation with Canada and Mexico.
USNORTHCOM is composed of several standing Joint Task Forces (JTFs) previously assigned to United States Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM): Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region, Joint Task Force Alaska, and Joint Task Force North. USNORTHCOM service components include U.S. Fifth Army/ARNORTH, AFNORTH/Air Combat Command, MARFORNORTH, and Fleet Forces Command.
USNORTHCOM headquarters has approximately 1,200 uniformed and civilian members, and few permanent forces. Forces from all branches of the U.S. military may be assigned to the Command as needed to complete its mission.
Commander, U.S. Northern Command is concurrently Commander of the U.S.-Canadian North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). The two are co-located at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado. General Ralph Eberhart was the first CDRUSNORTHCOM.
The current commander of the U.S. Northern Command is General Victor E. Renuart Jr., USAF.
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[edit] Concerns
USNORTHCOM has become the object of concern among civil libertarians and others that it could be used to implement martial law in the United States during an actual or perceived emergency.[1] The Military Commissions Act of 2006 effectively nullifies most restrictions placed on the military to support civilian administration by the Posse Comitatus Act, while the "John Warner Defense Authorization Act of 2007" H.R. 5122 (2006) effectively nullifies the limits of the The Insurrection Act [2].
[edit] List of commanders
| Name | Branch | Term began | Term ended | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Gen. Ralph E. Eberhart | United States Air Force | October 22, 2002 | November 5, 2004 |
| 2. | Adm. Timothy J. Keating | United States Navy | November 5, 2004 | March 23, 2007 |
| 3. | Gen. Victor E. Renuart Jr. | United States Air Force | March 23, 2007 |
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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