FM-3-81 Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Download
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Defense Support of Civil Authorities 09 November 2021 FM 3-81 B-9 continuing attention. The brigade surgeon advises and assists the MEB commander in counteracting the psychological effects of disaster relief work and exposure to human suffering on MEB Soldiers throughout the operation. Restoration B-48. Restoration is the return of normality to the area. In most cases, the MEB disengages before restoration begins. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is in charge of restoration operations for DSCA. B-49. The DSCA ends in different ways. Crises may be resolved or the MEB may hand off a continuing DSCA to a replacement unit, a relief agency, a police force, or other civil authority. Missions of short duration or narrow scope may end with completion of the assigned task. ASSESS B-50. The MEB command and control system is essential to support the interagency overall assessment. The MEB network-centric environment provides for a robust exchange of information. A common problem that the MEB or a nonmilitary agency may encounter is information overload or a different perception on how an operation is progressing. Commanders share the common operational picture (their interpretation of the situation) with their civil agency counterpart to ensure a unified effort. Liaison should occur to demonstrate this capability and to verify the method in which information sharing will occur. B-51. MEB commanders gauge unit readiness for DSCA missions by assessing proficiency in the tasks of command and control, sustainment, protection, support area operations, and emergency/incident response or the specified tasks assigned to an Army National Guard unit for planning. The requirement to deploy into a domestic operational environment—often with little warning—and to operate requires command and control that can adapt systems and procedures for a noncombat, civilian-led structure. B-52. The MEB leverages its command and control system capabilities and supports a degraded or destroyed civilian command and control/communications system. The MEB brings its mobile network and augments and/or replaces a devastated civil infrastructure. Most first responder communications are wireless, using tower-based repeating which is powered by the grid. The MEB augments local law enforcement (and emergency medical services, fire services, and other first responder communications) with the command and control network to restore vital services to the AO. EMPLOYMENT B-53. An example of a MEB conducting DSCA is a plane that has crashed into a major industrial site and resulted in mass casualties. A CBRN incident has occurred, with downwind prediction that affects a built-up area and state Highway 5, and there is an environmental hazard of runoff into the river that provides water to a built-up area downstream. B-54. The local officials responded but were overwhelmed. The state governor declared a state of emergency; directed the state emergency management agency to take over incident command, management, and response; and requested support from a neighboring state. That state has an Army National Guard MEB ready to respond to the mission based on an existing support agreement. B-55. The Army National Guard MEB immediately deploys the deputy commanding officer with an early-entry command post to collocate with the state emergency management agency on-site command post, while the rest of the MEB mobilizes and moves to the incident site. The MEB is task-organized with one engineer battalion, two military police battalions, a CA battalion, two CBRN battalions, and one mechanized infantry battalion. The state emergency management agency also put their state medical battalion, rotary- wing squadron, local and state search and rescue teams, and a volunteer local construction company OPCON to the MEB. The state emergency management agency assigned the MEB an area to control, in which they will conduct the operations. The key tasks include conducting risk management, responding to a CBRN incident, providing support to law enforcement, conducting postincident response, improving movement, and supporting area security in and around the industrial site. Finally, they are to conduct sustainment support operations (general engineering to construct a berm to control surface runoff) and other critical requirements that may be identified.