Department of Defense

DIRECTIVE

NUMBER

3025.18

December 29, 2010

Incorporating Change 1, September 21, 2012

USD(P)

SUBJECT: Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA)

References: See Enclosure 1

1. PURPOSE. This Directive:

a. Establishes policy and assig ns responsibilities for DSCA, also referred to as civil support.

b. Incorporates and cancels DoD Directive (DoDD) 3025.1 and DoDD 3025.15

(References (a) and (b)).

c. Supplements the regulations (in DoDD 5525.5 (Reference (c))) required by section 375 of

title 10, United States Code (U.S.C.), (Reference (d)) regarding military support for civilian law

enforcement.

d. Provides guidance for the execution and oversight of DSCA when requested by civil

authorities or by qualifying entities and approved by the appropriate DoD official, or as directed

by the President, within the United States, including the District of Columbia, the

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any territory or possession of the United

States or any political subdivision thereof.

e. Authorizes immediate r esponse authority f or providing DSCA, w hen requested.

f. Authorizes emergency authority for the use of military force, under dire situations, as

described in paragraph 4.i. above the signature of this Directive.

2. APPLICABILITY. This Directive:

a. Applies to OSD, the Military Departments, the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chief s

of Staff and the Joint Staff, the Comb atant Commands, the Office of the Inspector General o f the

Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other