Protecting the force

While maintaining effective emergency response and preventive measures to counter external threats, the Department is examining with greater attention how it addresses threats originating from disaffected individuals within the force motivated to violence against the force and the nation -- the internal threat. The Panel's review of protecting the force against such threats included but was not limited to: identifying and monitoring potential threats - through gathering, monitoring and acting on information and intelligence, providing time critical information to the right people - through merging and sharing current indicators, employing force protection measures - through maintaining adequate preventive measures to mitigate threats, planning for and responding to incidents - through immediate emergency response as well as the long-term care for victims of attacks and their families. In the years since September 11, 2001 the Department of Defense has devoted significant energy and resources toward improving force protection for its people, their families and its installations. Consequently its facilities are more secure and at reduced risk from a variety of external threats. It is time to devote that same commitment toward force protection against the internal threat.