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Department of Defense

Introduction

The purpose of this study is to define the role of the Department of Defense in the United States for maintaining the safety and security of the homeland. The vision of the Department of Defense would be presented, followed with the highlights of its missions, goals and objectives and also the means adopted by the DoD for achieving its goals and meeting its objectives. Moreover, the list of current officials along with the list of the related legislations enabling the creation of the DoD would be presented. Some light would also be thrown on the funding and budgetary system and operations and the paper would conclude on some criticisms raised on the DoD.

Department of Defense

The department of defense is the largest and the oldest governmental agency of the United States. The Department of Defense, having their military trailing their origins back to the pre-revolutionary period, has evolved and grown with the nation. Currently, the department being headed by Leon E. Panetta, the Secretary of Defense, is not only responsible for the military; rather it also utilizes an extensive civilian force. The DoD, having almost 1.4 million people on active duty, together with almost seven hundred thousand civilian employees, is the largest employer of the nation. The Reserve forces and the National Guard are served by another one million.

The Pentagon which is the headquarters of the DoD, is one amongst the largest office buildings of the world. The security of the nation is dependent on the facilities and installations of defense, being at the appropriate position, and at the appropriate time, having the appropriate capacities and qualities for protecting the resources of the nation. These resources have not ever had more importance since the US fights terrorists who scheme and execute attacks on their people and facilities (Department of Defense, pp. 20-35). The civilians and the service members of the military, function in all climates and all time zones. The DoD administers an inventory of facilities and installations for assuring the safety of the Americans. Adding together, all the various sites, the DoD employs more than thirty million acres of land. The mission of the DoD is to impart the military forces required for deterring war and for protecting the nation's security.

Vision

The vision of the DoD may be encapsulated into this brief statement:

“A homeland which is secure, safe and pliant against hazards like terrorism”

General Department Mission

The general mission of the Department of Defense is to lead endeavours for achieving a secure, safe and pliant homeland. The department seeks to respond against terrorism and boost their security; manage and secure the country's borders; administer and enforce their immigration regulations; safeguard the critical infrastructure and cyber networks; and ascertain pliability from the adversities. The DoD seeks to achieve their missions while imparting the vital support to the economic and national security and strengthening and maturing the homeland security enterprise as well as the Department of Homeland Security (Clark, pp. 21-45.).

Mission, Goals and Objectives

Mission 1: Averting Terrorism ...