View source for United States Northern Command

{{Short description|Unified combatant command of the United States Armed Forces}}
{{About|a Unified Combatant Command of the U.S. Armed Forces|the Chinese tower manufacturing and wireless broadband company|Northcom Group}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = United States Northern Command
| image                         = Seal of the United States Northern Command.svg
| caption                       = 
| start_date                    = 1 October 2002<br />({{Age in years and months|2002|10|01}} ago)<ref>{{Cite web |title=NORTHCOM History |url=http://www.northcom.mil/Portals/28/Documents/Supporting%20documents/Historical/NORTHCOM%20History.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317051021/https://www.northcom.mil/Portals/28/Documents/Supporting%20documents/Historical/NORTHCOM%20History.pdf |archive-date=17 March 2022 |website=NORTHCOM}}</ref>
| country                       = {{flag|United States}}
| allegiance                    = 
| branch                        = 
| type                          = [[Unified combatant command]]
| role                          = Geographic combatant command
| size                          = 
| command_structure             = [[United States Department of Defense]]
| garrison                      = [[Peterson Space Force Base]], [[Colorado Springs, Colorado|Colorado Springs]], Colorado, U.S.
| garrison_label                = Headquarters
| nickname                      = 
| patron                        = 
| motto                         = "We have the watch"<ref name="northcom.mil">{{cite web |url=http://www.northcom.mil/Newsroom/Fact-Sheets/Article-View/Article/563996/usnorthcom-vision/ |title=USNORTHCOM Vision |access-date=31 October 2017 |archive-date=7 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107012058/http://www.northcom.mil/Newsroom/Fact-Sheets/Article-View/Article/563996/usnorthcom-vision/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| colors                        = 
| colors_label                  = 
| march                         = 
| mascot                        = 
| equipment                     = 
| equipment_label               = 
| battles                       = 
| anniversaries                 = 
| decorations                   = [[File:Streamer JMUA.PNG|200px]]<br />[[Joint Meritorious Unit Award]]
| battle_honours                = 
| website                       = {{url|https://www.northcom.mil/|www.northcom.mil}}
<!-- Commanders -->| commander1                    = [[General (United States)|General]] [[Gregory M. Guillot]], [[United States Air Force|USAF]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.northcom.mil/Leadership/Article-View/Article/2358796/general-glen-d-vanherck-usaf/|title=Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command|access-date=2024-02-06|website=U.S. Northern Command}}</ref>
| commander1_label              = Commander
| commander2                    = [[Lieutenant General (United States)|Lieutenant General]] [[Thomas Carden|Thomas Carden Jr.]], [[United States Army|USA]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.northcom.mil/Leadership/Article-View/Article/2706940/lieutenant-general-thomas-carden-usa/|title=Lieutenant General Thomas Carden, USA|access-date=2024-05-11|website=U.S. Northern Command}}</ref>
| commander2_label              = Deputy Commander
| commander3                    = [[Chief master sergeant|CMSgt]] John G. Storms, [[United States Air Force|USAF]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.northcom.mil/Leadership/Article-View/Article/2675912/chief-master-sergeant-john-g-storms-usaf/|title=Command Senior Enlisted Leader, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command|access-date=2023-06-15|website=U.S. Northern Command}}</ref>
| commander3_label              = Senior Enlisted Leader
| notable_commanders            = <!-- Insignia -->
| identification_symbol         = [[File:NATO Map Symbol - Unit Size - Region or Front.svg|100px]]<br />[[File:Military Symbol - Friendly Unit (Solid Light 1.5x1 Frame)- AA - Northern Command (FM 1-02, 2004 September 21).svg|100px]]
| identification_symbol_label   = [[NATO Joint Military Symbology|NATO Map Symbol]]<ref>{{cite book |title=FM 1-02 Operational Terms and Graphics |date=21 September 2004 |publisher=US Army |pages=5–37 |url=http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/virtual_disk_library/index.cgi/4882557/FID2884/mcrp/mcrp512a.pdf |ref=Table 5-7}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=ADP 1-02 Terms and Military Symbols |date=14 August 2018 |publisher=US Army |pages=4–8 |url=https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/ARN20083_ADP%201-02%20C1%20FINAL%20WEB.pdf |ref=Table 4-2}}</ref>
}}
{{United States Armed Forces sidebar}}

[[File:GCCMAP.png|thumb|right|300px|NORTHCOM Area of Responsibility (in blue)]]

The '''United States Northern Command''' ('''USNORTHCOM''')<ref>Informally known simply as "NORTHCOM" or "Northern Command")</ref> is one of eleven [[unified combatant command]]s of the [[United States Department of Defense]]. The command is tasked with providing military support for [[Civil authority|non-military authorities]] in the U.S., and protecting the territory and [[national interests]] of the United States within the [[Continental America|continental United States]], [[Puerto Rico]], [[Canada]], [[Mexico]], [[The Bahamas]], and the air, land and sea approaches to these areas. It is the U.S. military command which, if applicable, would be the primary defender against an invasion of the U.S.

USNORTHCOM was created on 25 April 2002 when President [[George W. Bush]] approved a new [[Unified Command Plan]], following the [[September 11 attacks]]. USNORTHCOM went operational on 1 October 2002.

==Creation==
USNORTHCOM was established on 25 April 2002 when President George W. Bush approved a new [[Unified Command Plan]],<ref name="ABA-p44">{{cite book|editor=Whitley, Joe D.|title=Homeland security: legal and policy issues|chapter=Unified Combatant Commands and USNORTHCOM|publisher=American Bar Association|year=2009|isbn=978-1-60442-462-1|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bJI54yr1ymQC&pg=PA44|display-editors=etal}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|chapter=Homeland Security: Establishment and Implementation of Northern Command|editor=Thaler, William M.|editor2=Bea, Keith|title=Emerging issues in homeland security|publisher=Nova Publishers|year=2005|isbn=978-1-59454-139-1|page=107|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Gop_tJNrPpsC&pg=PA107|author=Bolkcom, Christopher|display-authors=etal}}</ref> and attained [[initial operating capability]] on 1 October 2002.<ref>{{Cite book|editor=Cecchine, Gary|title=Triage for civil support: using military medical assets to respond to terrorist attacks|publisher=RAND Corporation|year=2004|isbn=978-0-8330-3661-2|page=25|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i-7xxfTXOwsC&pg=PA25}}</ref>

==Mission==
According to the UCP, Northern Command's mission is to:<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Beginning|website=U.S. Northern Command|url=https://www.northcom.mil/Portals/28/Documents/Supporting%20documents/Historical/NORTHCOM%20History.pdf|date=31 December 2012|page=4|quote=U.S. Northern Command’s mission is to deter, prevent and defeat threats and aggression aimed at the United States, its territories, and interests. Additionally, the command is charged with providing defense support for civil authorities when approved by the President or Secretary of Defense. U.S. Northern Command also provides military resources and support to federal, state and local authorities.}}</ref>

* Conduct operations to deter, prevent, and defeat threats and aggression aimed at the United States, its territories, and [[national interest|interests]] within the assigned area of responsibility and,
* As directed by the [[President of the United States|President]] or [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]] provide military assistance to [[Civil authority|non-military authorities]] including consequence management operations

==Area of responsibility==
USNORTHCOM's Area of Responsibility (AOR) includes air, land and sea approaches and encompasses the [[Continental America|continental United States]], [[Canada]], [[Mexico]] and the surrounding water out to approximately {{convert|500|nmi|km|-1}}. It also includes the [[Gulf of Mexico]], the [[Straits of Florida]], portions of the Caribbean region to include [[The Bahamas]], [[Puerto Rico]], the [[United States Virgin Islands|U.S. Virgin Islands]], the [[British Virgin Islands]], [[Bermuda]], and the [[Turks and Caicos Islands]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Jacoby|first1=Charles|title=2014 NC Posture Statement|url=http://www.northcom.mil/Portals/28/Documents/2014%20NC%20Posture%20Statement_Final_HASC.pdf|website=northcom.mil|access-date=18 April 2015}}</ref> The commander of USNORTHCOM is responsible for theater security cooperation with Canada, Mexico, and The Bahamas.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.northcom.mil/About/index.html |title=About USNORTHCOM |author=U.S. Northern Command Public Affairs |date=22 October 2009 |work=USNORTHCOM website |publisher=U.S. Northern Command |location=Peterson Air Force Base, CO |access-date=28 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090816213648/http://www.northcom.mil/about/index.html |archive-date=16 August 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In May 2011, NORTHCOM was mobilized in the wake of the [[Deepwater Horizon oil spill|BP oil spill]] in the Gulf of Mexico<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.northcom.mil/news/2010/050510.html |title=USNORTHCOM responds to Deepwater Horizon oil spill |publisher=Northcom.mil |access-date=19 May 2011}}</ref> to provide air, ground, and logistical support.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.northcom.mil/news/2010/071310.html |title=Deepwater Horizon airspace activity now coordinated at 601st AOC |publisher=Northcom.mil |date=13 July 2010 |access-date=19 May 2011}}</ref> In October 2014, NORTHCOM took administrative control of [[Alaskan Command]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.stripes.com/northcom-assumes-oversight-of-alaskan-command-1.311066|title=NORTHCOM assumes oversight of Alaskan Command - Stripes}}</ref>

==Organizational structure==

===Headquarters===
[[File:210114-D-BN624-0138 (50836841477).jpg|thumb|NORAD-USNORTHCOM headquarters at the Eberhart-Findley Building on Peterson Space Force Base]]
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 Space Force Base]] in [[Colorado Springs, Colorado|Colorado Springs]], [[Colorado]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Cutler, Thomas|title=Navcivguide|publisher=Naval Institute Press|year=2011|isbn=978-1-61251-019-4|page=59|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lTc4TxT5YBAC&pg=PT59}}</ref> General [[Ralph Eberhart]] was the first CDRUSNORTHCOM.<ref>{{cite web|title=U.S. Northern Command History|url=http://www.northcom.mil/About/history_education/history.html|access-date=11 February 2013}}</ref>

USNORTHCOM headquarters has approximately 1,200 uniformed and civilian staff.<ref>{{cite web|title=U.S. Northern Command|url=http://www.northcom.mil/About/index.html|access-date=11 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090816213648/http://www.northcom.mil/about/index.html|archive-date=16 August 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> In its first period of organising in 2002–03, one priority was to hire civilian staff which could help respond to a [[Weapons of Mass Destruction]] attack and to coordinate disaster recovery.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.govexec.com/defense/2002/08/new-military-command-seeks-civilian-managers/12325/ | title=New military command seeks civilian managers | date=15 August 2002 }}</ref>

===Component commands===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Emblem !! Command !! Acronym !! Commander !! Established !! Headquarters !! Subordinate Commands
|-
| [[File:United_States_Army_North_CSIB.svg|75px]] || {{center|[[United States Army North]]<br><small>[[Joint Force Land Component Command]]</small><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.arnorth.army.mil/About/Organization/|title = ARNORTH Organization}}</ref>}} || ARNORTH || [[Lieutenant General (United States)|Lt General]] [[Allan Pepin]] || {{dts|format=dmy|1946|06|11}} || [[Joint Base San Antonio|JBSA-Fort Sam Houston]], [[Texas]] ||
* Civil Support Training Activity
* Task Force 46
* Task Force 51
* Task Force 76
* [[323rd Army Band]]
* [[File:US_Army_505th_MIB_SSI.png|30px]] [[505th Military Intelligence Brigade]]
* [[File:263ADABdeSSI.svg|30px]] [[263rd Army Air and Missile Defense Command]]
* [[File:Escssi.png|30px]] [[3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)]]
* [[File:377_Sust_Cmd_SSI.jpg|30px]] [[377th Theater Sustainment Command]]
|-
| [[File:Marine Corps Forces Northern Command.jpg|75px]] || {{center|[[U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command|Marine Corps Forces North]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marforcom.marines.mil/Home/Units/|title = MARFORCOM Units}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic, Marine Forces Command, Marine Forces Northern Command |url=https://www.marforcom.marines.mil/ |website=marforcom.marines.mil}}</ref>}} || MARFORNORTH || Lt General [[Roberta L. Shea]] || {{dts|format=dmy|1946|12|16}} || [[Naval Station Norfolk]], [[Virginia]] ||
* [[File:II_MEF_Insignia_Hi-Res_PNG.png|30px]] [[II Marine Expeditionary Force]]
* [[File:MCSF_Regt_Logo.gif|30px]] [[Marine Corps Security Force Regiment]]
* [[File:CBIRF.png|30px]] [[Chemical Biological Incident Response Force]]
* Marine Corps Security Cooperation Group
* Headquarters & Service Battalion
|-
| [[File:Seal_of_the_Commander_of_the_United_States_Fleet_Forces_Command.svg|75px]] || {{center|[[United States Fleet Forces Command|United States Naval Forces Northern Command]]<br><small>[[Joint Force Maritime Component Command]]</small><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usff.navy.mil/|title = US Navy Fleet Forces Command}}</ref>}} || NAVNORTH || [[Admiral (United States)|Admiral]] [[Daryl L. Caudle]] || {{dts|format=dmy|1906|01|01}} || [[Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads]], [[Virginia]] ||
* [[File:United_States_2nd_Fleet_insignia,_2018_(180816-N-N0701-0001).png|30px]] [[United States 2nd Fleet]]
* [[File:CNAL.png|30px]] [[Naval Air Force Atlantic]]
* [[File:COMNAVSURFLANT.png|30px]] [[Commander, Naval Surface Forces Atlantic|Naval Surface Forces Atlantic]]
* [[File:Atlantic_submarine_command_badge.png|30px]] [[Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic|Submarine Force Atlantic]]
* [[File:Seal_of_the_United_States_Navy_Expeditionary_Combat_Command.png|30px]] [[Navy Expeditionary Combat Command]]
* [[File:NMCLANT Emblem.jpg|30px]] Navy Munitions Command Atlantic
|-
| [[File:1st_Air_Force.png|75px]] [[File:ConrAfnorthAfspace.jpg|75px]] || {{center|[[First Air Force]] / [[Air Forces Northern]]<br><small>[[Joint Force Air Component Command]]</small><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.1af.acc.af.mil/Units/|title = 1st Air Force Units}}</ref>}} || 1 AF (AFNORTH) || Lt Gen [[M. Luke Ahmann]] || {{dts|format=dmy|2007|11|1}} || [[Tyndall Air Force Base]], [[Florida]] || 
* [[File:Eastern_Air_Defense_Sector_emblem.jpg|30px]] [[Eastern Air Defense Sector]]
* [[File:Western_Air_Defense_Sector.png|30px]] [[Western Air Defense Sector]]
* [[File:601st_Air_and_Space_Operations_Center.PNG|30px]] [[601st Air Operations Center]]
* [[File:Air Force Rescue Coordination Center - Emblem.svg|30px]] [[Air Force Rescue Coordination Center]]
* [[File:National_Security_Emergency_Preparedness_Emblem.png|30px]] [[Air Forces Northern National Security Emergency Preparedness Directorate]]
* [[File:Civil_Air_Patrol_US.svg|30px]] [[Civil Air Patrol]]
|-
|}

===Subordinate unified commands===
{|class="wikitable"
|+
|-
! Emblem !! Command !! Acronym !! Commander !! Established !! Headquarters !! Subordinate Commands
|-
| [[File:Alcom-1_logo.png|75px]] || [[Alaskan Command]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jber.jb.mil/Units/Alaskan-Command/|title = Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson > Units > Alaskan Command}}</ref> || ALCOM || [[Lieutenant General (United States)|Lt General]] [[Case Cunningham]], [[United States Air Force|USAF]] || {{dts|format=dmy|1945|11|15}} || [[Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson]], [[Alaska]] ||
*[[File:11th_Airborne_Division_Insignia_2022.png|25px]] [[11th Airborne Division]]
*[[File:Eleventh_Air_Force_-_Emblem.png|25px]] [[Eleventh Air Force]]

There is no U.S. Navy component of ALCOM. The [[United States Coast Guard]]'s 17th District works closely with ALCOM and de facto acts as its maritime component.
|-
| [[File:SOCNORTH Emblem.jpg|75px]] || [[Special Operations Command North]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.socom.mil/socnorth/Pages/default.aspx|title = Special Operations Command North (SOCNORTH)}}</ref> || SOCNORTH || [[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]] Matthew P. Tucker, [[United States Army|USA]] || {{dts|format=dmy|2013|11|5}} || [[Peterson Space Force Base]], [[Colorado]]||
|-
|}

===Standing joint task force===
{|class="wikitable"
|+
|-
! Emblem !! Command !! Acronym !! Commander !! Established !! Headquarters
|-
| [[File:JointForceHeadquartersNationalCapitalRegionLogo.jpg|75px]] || [[Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region]] || JFHQ-NCR || [[Major General (United States)|Major General]] Trevor J. Bredenkamp, [[United States Army|USA]] || {{dts|format=dmy|2004|09|22}} || [[Fort Lesley J. McNair]], [[Washington D.C.]]
|-
| [[File:Joint_Task_Force_Civil_Support_emblem.jpg|75px]] || [[Joint Task Force – Civil Support]] || JTF-CS || Colonel Tanya S. McGonegal, [[United States Army National Guard|ARNG]] || {{dts|format=dmy|1999|10}} || [[Joint Base Langley-Eustis]], [[Virginia]]
|-
| [[File:Joint_Task_Force_North.jpg|75px]] || [[Joint Task Force North]] || JTF-North || Major General Henry S. Dixon, [[United States Army National Guard|ARNG]] || {{dts|format=dmy|1989|11}} || [[Fort Bliss]], [[Texas]]
|-
|}

==Commanders==
{{Main|Leadership of the United States Northern Command}}
[[File:NORAD & USNORTHCOM Change of Command 2018 180524-F-SD165-1055.jpg|thumb|Attendees pay respects during the playing of the American national anthem at the NORAD-USNORTHCOM change of command ceremony on 23 May 2018.]]
The commander of United States Northern Command is a [[Four-star rank|four-star]] [[General (United States)|general]] or [[Admiral (United States)|admiral]] in the [[United States Armed Forces]] who serves as the head of all U.S. military forces within the command's geographical [[area of responsibility]]. The commander of U.S. Northern Command concurrently serves as the [[Commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command|commander]] of [[North American Aerospace Defense Command]] (NORAD) and is the head of all [[United States]] and [[Canada|Canadian]] [[Combined operations|joint aerospace military operational forces]], stationed within the Northern American territories. The commander of U.S. Northern Command is nominated for appointment by the [[President of the United States]] and must be confirmed by the [[United States Senate]]. The commander of U.S. Northern Command typically serves for two years.

'''Note:''' The National Defense Authorization Act of 2008 stipulates that at least one deputy commander of USNORTHCOM be a National Guard general officer unless the commander is already such an officer.<ref>http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?tab=main&bill=h110-4986 Pub.L. 110-181: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008</ref><ref>http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-4986 Pub.L. 110-181: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 full text</ref>
{{#section:Leadership of the United States Northern Command|Commanders}}

==Planning and strategy==
Northern Command has created several [[classified information|classified]] "concept plans" (e.g. "Defense Support of Civil Authorities") that are intended to address the 15 National Planning Scenarios that NORTHCOM must be prepared to respond to.<ref>{{cite book|title=Managing the next domestic catastrophe: ready (or not)? : a beyond Goldwater-Nichols phase 4 report|publisher=CSIS|year=2008|isbn=978-0-89206-534-9|page=47|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ePiOA2-4qz0C&pg=PA47|author1=Wormuth, Christine E.  |author2=Witkowsky, Anne |name-list-style=amp }}</ref>

However, in 2012, the GAO found that the national strategy to defend the United States is several years out of date.<ref>[http://gao.gov/products/GAO-13-128?source=ra "DOD Needs to Address Gaps in Homeland Defense and Civil Support Guidance GAO-13-128, Oct 24, 2012."]</ref>

==Domestic operations and training==
NORTHCOM operates extensive [[Intelligence agency|domestic intelligence operations]] which both share and receive information from local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Employees of the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]], [[Central Intelligence Agency]], [[National Security Agency]], [[Defense Intelligence Agency]], [[National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency]], and other agencies maintain offices at NORTHCOM and receive daily intelligence briefings.<ref>{{cite book|author=Miller, Russell A.|title=US national security, intelligence and democracy: from the Church Committee to the War on Terror|publisher=Taylor & Francis|year=2008|isbn=978-0-415-44646-4|page=172|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jhzvd391spIC&pg=PA172}}</ref> The total of 14 agencies with representatives at NORTHCOM in December 2002 included the State Department, [[NASA]], and the [[Federal Aviation Administration]].<ref>Shenon and Schmitt NYT 2002.</ref>

Northern Command has completed several joint training exercises with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, the [[Department of Homeland Security]], and the [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]] (FEMA).<ref name="Head-2009-p60" />

In Exercise Vigilant Shield 2008, Northern Command, [[United States Pacific Command|Pacific Command]], the [[Department of Homeland Security]], and numerous law enforcement agencies across the U.S. conducted exercises to test their "response abilities against a variety of potential threats".<ref name="Head-2009-p60">{{cite book|title=Domestic deployment of the armed forces: military powers, law and human rights|publisher=Ashgate Publishing|year=2009|isbn=978-0-7546-7346-0|page=60|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OcaQ341m4PEC&pg=PA60|author1=Head, Michael  |author2=Mann, Scott |name-list-style=amp }}</ref>

==Related legislation==
The [[Posse Comitatus Act]] of 1878 and subsequent [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] policy constrains any member of the [[United States Army]], [[United States Air Force|Air Force]], [[United States Navy|Navy]], or [[United States Marine Corps|Marine Corps]], and the [[United States National Guard|National Guard]] under federal authority from domestically intervening in a law enforcement capacity on United States soil. Several exceptions to the law have been used in the past, including protecting the citizens' constitutional rights in the absence of state and/or local assistance, such as protecting the [[Little Rock Nine]] students in [[Little Rock, Arkansas]] in 1957, and using the [[Insurrection Act]] to quell civil disorders, such as the [[1992 Los Angeles riots]].

The [[Military Commissions Act of 2006]] lifted many restrictions placed on the military to support non-military authorities by the Posse Comitatus Act, however the United States Supreme Court ruled in June 2008 that significant portions of the MCA were unconstitutional. The "John Warner Defense Authorization Act of 2007" [[H.R. 5122 (2006)]] effectively nullified the limits of the Insurrection Act<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.towardfreedom.com/home/content/view/911/ |title=Bush Moves Towards Martial Law, 26&nbsp;October&nbsp;2006 |publisher=Towardfreedom.com |date=26 October 2006 |access-date=19 May 2011}}</ref> when it was passed; however, the bill was amended in 2008.

On 1 October 2008, the [[3rd Infantry Division (United States)|3rd Infantry Division]]'s 1st [[Brigade Combat Team]] was assigned to U.S. Northern Command, marking the first time an active unit had been given a dedicated assignment to Northern Command. The force will be known for the first year as a CBRNE Consequence Management Response Force, and will serve as an on-call federal response force for terrorist attacks and other natural or manmade emergencies and disasters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/09/army_homeland_090708w/ |title=Brigade homeland tours start 1 Oct. |work=Army Times|date=30 September 2008 |access-date=19 May 2011}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012]]
* [[NSPD-51]]
* [[United States National Guard]]

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=35em}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite journal|author1=Colonel Cronen|author2=R. Barry|title=U.S. Northern Command & Defense Support of Civil Authorities|journal=Center for Army Lessons Learned (CALL) Newsletter |issue=10 |volume=9 |date=December 2009 |url=http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/call/docs/10-16/ch_4.asp |access-date=13 December 2011 |archive-date=16 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150516180127/http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/call/docs/10-16/ch_4.asp|url-status=dead}}
* {{Cite news |last1=Shenon |first1=Philip |author2=Eric Schmitt |title=Meeting Daily, U.S. Nerve Centre Prepares for Terrorists |url= |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=27 December 2002}}
* [https://www.northcom.mil/Portals/28/Documents/Supporting%20documents/Historical/NORTHCOM%20History.pdf NORTHCOM: A Short History] [https://web.archive.org/web/20220317051021/https://www.northcom.mil/Portals/28/Documents/Supporting%20documents/Historical/NORTHCOM%20History.pdf Archived]

==External links==
* [http://www.northcom.mil/ United States Northern Command]

{{Unified Combatant Command of the United States armed forces}}
{{DOD agencies navbox}}
{{US military navbox}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Unified combatant commands of the U.S. Department of Defense|Northern Command]]
[[Category:Military units and formations in Colorado]]
[[Category:Organizations based in Colorado Springs, Colorado]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 2002]]
[[Category:2002 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:United States–North American relations]]