What Are the Duties of the U.S. Department of Defense?
The largest and oldest federal government agency, the Department of Defense has duties and obligations centering on national security.
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Authorization
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The authority and powers of the Department of Defense are outlined in Title 10 of the United States Code.
Organization
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The Department of Defense is made up primarily of the three major branches of the military: the Army, Navy (including the Marine Corps) and Air Force. The Pentagon also includes several major agencies and bureaus, including the Defense Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency.
National Security
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The primary mission of the Department of Defense is to provide the military forces to fight wars, deter aggression and protect the security of the United States.
Disaster Relief and Humanitarian Aid
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The Department of Defense also provides humanitarian aid and disaster relief, both domestically and internationally.
Homeland Security
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The Department of Defense assists with domestic security by coordinating with and providing support to the Department of Homeland Security. The D.O.D. also provides resources and aid to domestic authorities.
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References
- Photo Credit Photo: The U.S. Army/Flickr.com Creative Commons
