THE BIRTH AND EVOLUTION OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Ryan Ratts
March 28, 2013
American Military University
HLSS301
Shawn Powers
THE BIRTH AND EVOLUTION OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Homeland security in a general term used to describe various security efforts of the United States federal government to provide protection to the country against invasions by her enemies, terrorist attacks and other related terrorists activities. Homeland security refers to national efforts on controlling, managing and preventing potential attacks from terrorist organizations and individuals. Homeland security includes various efforts by the state and federal governments that aim at providing protection to the United States of America from both internal and external attacks. It also includes efforts by security agencies such as the United States Armed Forces to reduce the vulnerability and exposure of the United States to security threats and potential attacks. Homeland security also concerns lessening the severity of terrorist attacks in the U.S. Moreover, homeland security also aims at minimizing damages and impacts that may be caused by terrorist activities in the United States as well as efforts to facilitate or smooth the progress of recovery after terrorist attacks or invasions.
The Department of Homeland Security is made of various sub-departments such as the U.S. Customs Service, Federal Protective Service (FPS), Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP), Nuclear Incidence Response Team, National BW Defense Analysis Centre, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Secret Service amongst others.(2)
Homeland security was instituted and became fully operational on March 1, 2003 after massive reorganizations of various departments and security agencies in the United States. The reorganizations led to the creation of the United States Department of Homeland Security which is mandated to provide protection and security to...