Armed Forces News

The Army is assuming a greater role in protecting the homeland, the Pentagon’s civilian chief for that mission told an audience at the Association of the U.S. Army annual exposition in Washington earlier this month. “The homeland is less and less a sanctuary,” said Robert Salesses, the deputy assistant defense secretary for homeland defense integration and defense support of civilian authorities. He cited North Korea’s rising nuclear capabilities and the looming threat of Russian cyber attacks, saying that the oceans cannot provide a significant buffer against them. Salesses pointed out that the National Guard’s 22-member quick-reaction teams has the capability to respond rapidly to any nuclear, chemical or biological-weapons attacks. Other panelists noted that the Army provides aerial surveillance and intelligence analysis of the borders, in support of the U.S. Customs and B