I have to write one Reflective Essays (8-10 double spaced pages) with incite notations in APA format. The papers pulls together course readings and relates lessons from the course to the student’s professional practice. These will be based upon materials from Weeks 5-10. I have included below most of what we covered in the class from week 5 to 10 and I have put together all discussion posts covering each of the topics in Weeks 5 thru 10 so that it can be merged and incorporated into the essay. I have also included references that I had used. Just try to make it flow in a essay format with input from the discussion post. If you have any questions let me know.

Week 5

Historically, when one looks at instances when the military has been used to quell the domestic crisis, including the U.S. military response to the 9/11 attacks have been controversial. It is mainly because of the liberty and democracy that these states enjoy, which means that the people are aware of the constitutional requirement that the military should be relegated to dealing with the external threats, rather than internal. It is a highly controversial position, with people making arguments depending on the perception that they hold, but one wonders, has the Homeland Security in the U.S. been efficient in dealing with terror threat, or should the military and National Guard play a more central role?

Week 6

One of the lessons that have been learned on the use of the military is that it can breed resentment among the local population, condemnation from human rights activists, mainly because of its association with excessive use of force. The implication is that these are feelings that terrorists can exploit, creating a larger problem. The current situation in which terrorism has shifted to shared ideology, decentralized and a tendency to have sleeper cells creates an intricate act on how the military can help in such situations. The use of military should only be contextualized, implying that through terrorism has become an international problem, the military in the US should only play a supplementary role, and only when it acts to protect the civilians, a role that is shared constitutionally by the Homeland Security and the military.
It should be noted that the federal and state government in the US are supposed to follow the national framework that has been put in place to ensure that there are disaster preparedness and emergency responses. One of the lessons that were learned from the Hurricane Katrina was the need to maximize the first responder’s information. The federal government is supposed to work with the state governments in response, and there is no sense as to why federal officials should be the first to take this information from the first responders. The state officials, due to their knowledge of the local context and factors in a particular area, should have the priority, with the federal officials playing a secondary role in the response.
Conclusively, there has been a dynamism that has continued to be seen in the current generation, from climatic changes, such as the forest fires in California to human made actions such as terrorism. The secret lies in ensuring that there is dynamism in the preparedness between both levels of government to ensure that there is the maximization of the shared goal, keeping Americans safe.

Emergency response in my area are coordinated by South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) which comprises members of the National Guard, State Police, FEMA and other state and local public safety agencies. During a major threat such as a Hurricane, Nuclear threat, or Terrorist attack the SCEMD has an emergency operations center located in Columbia which coordinates emergency response. The EOC is staffed by local and federal officials which requires all agencies to work together under state and federal mandates. I believe that local public safety agencies such as the fire department, Police, EMS and should be given a lead role in providng support, particularly on the ground but when a major crises occures, such as a nuclear attack they should allow Federal authorities such as the FBI, CDC, National Gaurd or FEMA to provide operational command. This may be neccesary because of the resources and operational capabilities that the federal authorities have at their disposal. Also, under federal mandate the National Incident Management System (NIMS) gives guide lines on how Federal and local authorities should operate. I also believe that local authorities may become overwhelmed with a crises that they may not be able to handle. My personal opinion is that it should be up to the governor of the state and the berevity of the situation if Federal authorities are to assume overall command of any incident or major crises.

Emergency response in my area are coordinated by South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) which comprises members of the National Guard, State Police, FEMA and other state and local public safety agencies (SCEMD.org). SCEMD’s mission is to develop, coordinate, and lead the state emergency management program, enabling effective preparation for, response to and recovery from emergencies and disasters in order to save lives, reduce human suffering and minimize property loss (SCEMD.org) During a major threat such as a Hurricane, Nuclear threat, or Terrorist attack the SCEMD has an emergency operations center located in Columbia which coordinates emergency response. The EOC is staffed by local and federal officials which requires all agencies to work together under state and federal mandates. I believe that local public safety agencies such as the fire department, Police, EMS and should be given a lead role in providng support, particularly on the ground but when a major crises occures, such as a nuclear attack they should allow Federal authorities such as the FBI, CDC, National Gaurd or FEMA to provide operational command. This may be neccesary because of the resources and operational capabilities that the federal authorities have at their disposal. Also, under federal mandate the National Incident Management System (NIMS) gives guide lines on how Federal and local authorities should operate. I also believe that local authorities may become overwhelmed with a crises that they may not be able to handle. My personal opinion is that it should be up to the governor of the state and the berevity of the situation if Federal authorities are to assume overall command of any incident or major crises.
In response to a national disaster the SC national guard supports the state in law enforcement, transportation, medical care, construction, and facilities. I believe the National Guard role should be to protect and defend the country no matter where the threat is located (SCANG.mil) The South Carolina Army National Guard is a component of the United State Army and the United States National Guard Nationwide, the Guard comprises approximately one half of the U.S. Army’s available combat forces and approximately one third of its support organization. National coordination of various state National Guard units is maintained through the National Guard Bureau (SCANG.mil) After the Vietnam the war the Congress wanted states to become involved in any international conflict from home so it decided to change the laws, so the military could deploy Guard units with the Active military to any conflict zone around the world. This has become a very controversial issue and had become increasingly common as the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have stretched the resources and troops of the regular US Army thin.

Week 7

I do not believe system objectives can be realistic. They must be made to fit specific areas and departments. I do not think system objectives can be established across a broad range of autonomous or semi-autonomous agencies. Indeed, it is not desirable to have such objectives being consistent across various departments or agencies since each department relies on different tactics to accomplish its targets and goals (9/11 Report Chapter Eleven 353). It is more appropriate for each department or agency to keep track of its accomplishment.
I am of the opinion that lack of a cohesive system of objectives does indeed impair the waging war on terror because it is important to have unity and a clear set of goals to achieve the set targets in any organization. When a team stops working and planning together, it becomes almost impossible for the team to yield any result.

Week 8

I think that the general public is not prepared enough to participate in establishing system objectives of a department or an agency because it may not have the necessary know-how, skills, and experiences. To establish system objectives of any agency or department is of paramount importance to involve parties that are well-acquainted with the subject matter (9/11 Report Chapter Twelve 383). As such, the general public ought to elect people to represent them and fight for their interest. However, the public at large can play a crucial role by demanding more efficient objectives, goals, and strategies for fighting terror attacks.

Emergencies in public health such as bioterrorism, natural disasters, and chemical terrorism require quick and coordinated responses from both the international, national and local levels. Overly, lack of quick responses to public health emergencies can lead to high fatality cases. In the United States, the September 11 atrocities highlighted the need for a more improved response system to public health. This is because the needs for health care from the public during that period surpassed the available capacity as well as accessibility.

Week 9

Comparison of Practices and Recommendations.

Preparedness against bioterrorism is important because bioterrorism threats have been on the increase especially due to strict laws on other mass destruction weapons. In this regard, Strongin (2001) proposes that there should be increased coordination between public health officials and public medical officers. This way, information could easily be shared and passed between the two groups. This practice is crucial in identifying any biological weapon or attack that may be carried out on a population. Moreover, being able to distinguish between bioterrorism and chemical terrorism is crucial because it affects the decision to respond to the condition. Ideally, the two attacks might be similar in affecting their victims, yet they may be as a result of different causing agents, therefore, needing more accurate approaches in combating them (Strongin, 2001). Other ways to managing public health and enhancing response to emergency situations include shoring up the public health sector. This involves changing various aspects of the system to make it more effective. McHugh, Staiti, and Felland (2004) believe that various changes have been made to the public health department regarding responses to emergencies since September 11. In his article McHugh, Staiti, and Felland (2004) points out increased funding, successful collaboration, and strong leadership as some of the key concepts that have been changed regarding public health.
Among the highlighted changes, increasing collaboration between individuals in the healthcare sector and various security agencies within the nation is very crucial (McHugh, Staiti, & Felland, 2004). This is because it will give the emergency reaction efforts a two-dimensional approach to dealing with emergencies. Moreover, aside from helping in managing any public emergency situations, it can help to prevent the occurrences of the emergencies. However, despite these efforts, it will also be prudent to increase the current funding to public health programs tasked with managing emergencies, enhance the staffing levels of public health programs, and ensure early receipt of federal funding.

Efficiency of the Materials
The materials contain extensive information regarding the subject of public health readiness. Therefore, they presented a blueprint for a comprehensive first response in the event of a public health emergency. This is mainly because the authors first evaluated the state of affairs in the nation regarding the response rate to emergencies in public health then explained the changes that have been made and lastly, pointed out the gaps in the current system (Strongin, 2001). This helps them to come up with information that can help to develop a more efficient public health emergency management system as compared to the one in place at the moment. However, for this to be achieved, the recommendations in the two articles have to be implemented.

Alternatives
The two articles offer comprehensive information regarding management of public health emergencies. They point out the input that can be generated from security systems, the public healthcare officials, as well as the medical health professionals. However, there is no inclusion of the general public. This ought to have been included because they are the primary causalities in the event of a public health emergency. Ideally, an emergency becomes more fatal if the victims do not know how to prevent or manage themselves while the emergency is occurring. Therefore, teaching the public on how to act during emergencies should have also been considered as a key aspect in the management of emergencies in public health.

Week10

My analysis of the Rudman, Clarke, and Metzl report on the state of budgetary and monetary support by the federal government reflects my belief
that several agencies have been quite succesful in dealing with these issue of cooperation and coordination. First. The Federal government under
DHS formed in 2002 has consolidated several key agencies into a large Department with oversight from Congress and leadership that has
greatly improved emergency responder coordination Post 9/11. I believe this report has also high lighted several highly critical shortfalls and have
assessed and identified potential weaknesses in Post 9-11 funding.

The council on Foreign Relations report gives a an depth analysis and descriptions of the state of coordination between federal agencies and I was able to two problems of concern outlined in the report. The two major problems that are identified in the report are “it is impossible to know precisely what is needed and how much it will cost due to the lack of preparedness standards and funding for emergency responders has been sidetracked and stalled due to a politicized appropriations process, the slow distribution of funds by federal agencies, and bureaucratic red tape at all levels of government (Rudman, Clarke, and Metzl, 2003). The implication is that the fight against terrorism has missed its objectivity, and the different federal bodies that have been formed all seem to work on a different premise, yet there is a shared goal of securing the Americans. While the different federal bodies can justify their existence by pointing put to their independent roles that complement each other, there has been a lack of coordination, especially from the perceived seniority and better funding of the federal bodies, compared to the state and local bodies. The centralization of security services should be a major aspect that a country should seek to integrate, and thus, any efforts that appear to divide these roles only creates loopholes that can be exploited by the terror groups.

One of the major shortcomings of the report is that when it states that the Congress should require the Department of Homeland Security to develop a coordinated plan on preparedness yet there are so many bodies, from the federal to the local states that are required to be part of the national preparedness framework. Perhaps, the report should have called for a consolidation of the Department of Homeland Security, and this just highlights the problem of decentralization that has been repeatedly cited, which seems to make the work more appalling, rather than making the work of securing Americans easier and efficient.

The Responder’s Workforce report makes an interesting recommendation of ensuring that all these people have the necessary skills that are required to perform in their roles (Rudman, Clarke, and Metzl, 2003). As a matter of fact, the chronology of managing the process as a cycle, which means that there will be a cycle of coordination and efficiency as the whole work process will be dependent on all the people carrying out their roles and facilitating the subsequent process to take place. The other report on preparedness also makes an interesting point of eliminating the bureaucratic process that governs the way the terror threat is addressed in the USA (Rudman, Clarke, and Metzl, 2003). The implication that it calls for the elimination of vested interests in the process, and instead an objective and coherent process that deals with all the needs of the states. However, both reports miss out on the dynamism of terrorism in the modern times, and how other factors such as immigration contribute to the failure or success of the frameworks that have been put in place. The inclination is that they do not offer insight into the emerging trends and how to go about these issues moving forward.

References,

Strongin, R. J. (2001). Emergency Preparedness from a Health Perspective: Preparing for Bioterrorism at the Federal, State, and Local Levels. Retrieved from http://www.nhpf.org/library/background-papers/BP_E…
McHugh, M., Staiti, A. B., & Felland, L. E. (2004). How prepared are Americans for public health emergencies? Twelve communities weigh in. Health Affairs, 23(3), 201-209. Retrieved from http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/23/3/201….

South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD); Retrieved from SCEMD.org;

South Carolina National Guard; SCANG; Retrieved from SCANG.mil

Institute for Homeland Defense; National Strategy for Homeland Defense; Retrieved from http://www.homelanddefense.org/.

SCEMD; South Carolina Emergency Management Division; www.SCEMD.org

National Commission on Terrorist Attacks on the United States – 9-11 Commission Report: Chapter 12: What to Do? A Global Strategy. (n.d).
Govinfo.library.unt.edu. Retrieved 16 July 2017, from http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/911/report/911Repor…

Council on Foreign Relations; https://www.cfr.org/content/publications/attachmen…
Rand Corp; Retrieved 07/27/2017; Retrieved from ; http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/monograp…

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