Joint Task Force Civil Support

On order, JTF-CS conducts CBRN Response and All-Hazards DSCA operations in support of the Lead Federal Agency in order to save lives, mitigate human suffering, and prevent further injury. JTF-CS is a flexible, agile, adaptive, responsive, and professional Joint Force. It possesses professional personnel across all services which will respond in time of need with a Joint Force with operational technical expertise, training and equipment to respond to multiple contingencies in support of Homeland Defense and Civil Support operations. The JTF is educated, considerate, and diverse with equality considerations in all operations. JTF-CS is the nations’ only standing CBRN joint task force. It is comprised of active and reserve component service members from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. The headquarters also includes Department of the Air Force civilians and contract personnel. Established in October 1999, JTF-CS is assigned to U.S. Northern Command and conducts CBRN response operations planning and preparedness to maximize mission readiness and capability. The commander of U.S. Army North has operational control of JTF-CS. JTF-CS accomplishes response operations in strict adherence with the Constitution and public law. When directed on the authority of the President, through the Secretary of Defense, USNORTHCOM provides defense support of civil authorities when requested by local, state, tribal and federal officials. In any domestic setting, JTF-CS always remains in support of civil authorities integrating the DOD response with other interagency capabilities to achieve unity of effort under the National Response Framework.