Introduction to the Dual Status Commander During the 2017 hurricane season, the Coast Guard deployed more than 2,900 people in response to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. Just a year later, the Coast Guard dealt with the devastating effects of Hurricane Michael. In these types of domestic disasters, the Coast Guard is part of an integrated federal response that often includes state National Guard and federal Department of Defense military forces. Coast Guard personnel finding themselves working with the National Guard and DoD in domestic disasters may come across a military commander who simultaneously commands state and federal forces. This unique commander is known as a dual status commander. In the 1990s and 2000s, a series of catastrophic domestic disasters exposed serious unity of effort problems between state and federal military forces when they are conducting Defense Support of Civil Authorities operations. These unity of effort problems are caused by limitations and restrictions placed on federal military forces by the 10th Amendment and the Posse Comitatus Act. The 10th Amendment places limitations on the domestic use of federal military forces. Further, the PCA forbids federal military personnel from direct participation in law enforcement activities in the states. About 15 years ago, the concept of a dual-hatted military command position emerged as a solution to the unity of effort difficulties. Ultimately called a dual status commander, use of a DSC was eventually codified by the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act as the customary command and control arrangement for planned events, no-notice or imminent events, or incidents when federal and state forces are deployed simultaneously in support of civil authorities in the United States. A DSC is an Army National Guard, Air National Guard, Regular Army, or Air Force O-6 or general officer who holds simultaneous federal military and state National Guard commissions. When appointed to this dual role, a DSC becomes the link between separate, mutually exclusive, state and federal military chains of command. Figure 1 depicts the unique command and control relationship that exists between National Guard and DoD forces when a DSC is placed in command. Usually DSCs are National Guard officers, but Army and Air Force active duty officers can be appointed DSCs for events within the National Capital Region, if a state does not have a qualified and certified DSC, or for events on federal property. Once appointed, a DSC must be responsive to two distinct military chains of command. To assist them with these separate responsibilities, DSCs are assigned two Deputies and two Joint Staffs. A state National Guard Deputy and Joint Staff assist in relaying orders from the DSC or state chain of command to state military forces. A federal military Deputy and Joint Staff (referred to as the Joint Enabling Capability or JEC) help relay orders from the DSC or federal chain of command to federal military forces. Interestingly, several of the Coast Guard active duty personnel and reservists working at NORTHCOM have assignments directly related to the DSC construct and DSCA mission. The active duty positions are with the NORTHCOM (NC)/J35 Civil Support Division and the NC/J36 Domestic Operations Division. Senior Coast Guard officers at NORTHCOM are routinely assigned as the NC/J36 Division Chief and the NC/ J36 Branch Chief and are responsible for training DSCs, Deputies, and JEC personnel. Several Coast Guard reservists assigned to NORTHCOM are also involved with DSC and DSCA. For example, the Coast Guard reserve unit commander, an O-6, serves as the deployable J9 Interagency Director for the Joint Force Land Component commander during hurricane response. The CGRU executive officer, an O-5, doubles as a backfill Coast Guard liaison officer during hurricane response. The three Coast Guard reservists assigned to the NC/J36 are regularly brought on duty to participate in DSCA exercises designed to train DSCs, JECs, and National Guard joint staffs. These reservists are DSCA trained and can deploy as members of a JEC. Although federal law restricts DSC appointments to specific types of officers, federal deputies can be selected from any of the branches of the armed forces. About 15 years ago, the idea emerged of creating a dual- hatted commander who could simultaneously command state and federal military forces conducting DSCA operations in the U.S. homeland. That position, now called a Dual Status Commander, was eventually established by law in 2012. Since then, 662 DSCs have been trained and 53 have been appointed for various DSCA operations. The Coast Guard Reserve strives to put high performing officers and enlisted members into the small number of joint tours available each rotation season. Therefore, reservists who want a joint tour should ensure their assignment officer knows their desires well in advance. Officers should also indicate interest in a joint tour in their evaluation with a recommendation from their supervisor. Reservists with joint professional military education or officer specialty codes in defense operations and other desirable skill sets may also increase their chances for selection. Ultimately, a consistent record of competitive OERs is the best way to be selected for these positions. � — Submitted by Dr. Steven Goff Editor's Note: This is an excerpt of an original article from Proceedings Magazine. Issue 2 • 2019 � RESERVIST 35