PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – If you've never heard of U.S. Northern Command, the nation's newest combatant command, you're probably not alone. Generally, the only time the public hears about the joint military service, Colorado-based command is when something bad – and big – happens inside America's borders.
"We work hard to stay off the front page," said USNORTHCOM Commander Adm. Timothy J. Keating. "When we do our job effectively and efficiently, American citizens probably never know it."
Although USNORTHCOM was officially established in 2002, the first time many people may have heard of the command was last year during relief efforts in the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina. More than 22,000 active-duty military troops, including members of the 82nd Airborne and 1st Cavalry Divisions, deployed to the area after the storm as part of Task Force Katrina, which was directed by USNORTHCOM and commanded by Army Lt. Gen. Russel L. Honoré.
But the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coasties and civilians at USNORTHCOM stay busy all year, not just during hurricane season.
USNORTHCOM was created in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and given a two-fold mission: to conduct operations to deter, prevent and defeat threats and aggression aimed at the United States, its territories and interests within the assigned area of responsibility; and to provide defense support of civil authorities, including consequence management operations, as directed by the president or secretary of defense.
"Our highest priority is the military defense of our nation against external threats," said USNORTHCOM Deputy Commander Army Lt. Gen. Joseph R. Inge. "Homeland defense is job one.
"Our civil support mission includes domestic disaster relief operations during fires, hurricanes, floods and earthquakes. Civil support also includes counter-drug operations and managing the consequences of a terrorist event involving a weapon of mass destruction."
The command's area of responsibility includes not just the continental United States, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, but also the surrounding water out to about 500 nautical miles and all air, land and sea approaches.
"USNORTHCOM also routinely provides security support to events such as political conventions, elections, presidential visits and sporting venues," Keating said. Those events include the president's State of the Union address planned for later this month and the Super Bowl, which will be held next month in Detroit.