EPLO in every STATE

 The Critical Role of NEPLOs in Every State

Preparedness: NEPLOs are not just responders; their key role is in the planning and coordination that occurs before disasters strike. Even for low-probability events like the Cascadia Earthquake in the Pacific Northwest, where there's only a 37% chance it will happen in the next 50 years, the devastation will be severe when it does occur. NEPLOs are essential in the ongoing coordination between FEMA and DoD in preparing for such an event.

Backup NEPLOs: If disaster strikes, local NEPLOs may be directly affected, as seen with NRNW NEPLOs. In those moments, backup NEPLOs from other regions must step in. However, due to budget restraints, we have been unable to fully exercise and train these backup NEPLOs. When local NEPLOs are incapacitated, someone needs to respond – and cutting back on NEPLOs in any state could leave us dangerously unprepared.

Consistency in DCO Training: There is a clear need for standardized training and expectations for DCOs. Some DCOs request additional drills on top of already demanding NEPLO responsibilities. The bandwidth for SELRES personnel is limited, and we are asking too much of NEPLOs to support multiple DCOs without standardization, risking burnout and inefficiency.

Support at All Times: NEPLOs are critical before, during, and after disasters, even when they aren’t activated. For events like the Eastern Kentucky floods or the Maryland Bridge collapse, NEPLOs coordinated extensively to prepare for potential activation, ensuring readiness in case the call came. Much of this critical work is done without compensation, highlighting their professionalism and commitment.

Comparison with Other Reserve Units: While NEPLOs may not frequently mobilize in support of DSCA events, they are similar to other reserve units that often remain in a constant state of readiness without being activated. Like many military reserve components, their value isn't measured solely by how often they are mobilized, but by their continuous preparation, training, and planning. NEPLOs are always on standby, ensuring readiness to respond when the call comes, and this unseen but vital work mirrors the readiness posture of reserve units that train for years without deploying. Cutting back on NEPLOs would undermine this critical state of preparedness and leave gaps in national disaster response.

Conclusion: NEPLOs must remain in every state, prepared to respond to events both expected and unforeseen. Their presence and preparedness efforts are the cornerstone of disaster readiness across the nation. Reducing their numbers or cutting back on their involvement jeopardizes our ability to respond effectively when the inevitable disaster occurs.

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NEPLO DSCATS/Leadership Workshop

NEPLO Leadership Workshop 2024 

23-27 September 2024 

NIWC New Orleans 

New Orleans, LA 70128 

2201 Lake Park Drive,  

 

Uniform:        Pri: Navy Working Uniform (Type IIIs) / Flight Suits  

 

Monday, 23 Sep 2024 

                          Travel Day 

 

Tuesday, 24 Sep 2024 

0730-0800:      Muster – CAPT Urwiller 

0800-0830:      Welcome Aboard/Agenda Review/Admin – CAPT Washburn 

0830-1015:      DSCATS Program Update/Strategic Initiative – Chris Kives / Ken Mendez / Bob Gulley 

1015-1030      Break 

1030-1130:      DSCATS Review & Training – CAPT Cox/ CAPT Porter 

• IDT Data Capture 

• DCO IDT Visibility 

• New Permanent DCO Chatrooms 

• ITP Storage  

• Event Creation/Tracker/Upkeep 

• The Importance of Chat 

1130-1300:      Lunch 

1300-1330:      DCO/E suggested updates and/or changes to DSCATS - LTC Brian Hahn (USA) 

1330-1630:      DSCATS CO/Leadership Inputs for Action – Chris Kives 

• ITPs  

• Standardization  

• Data Management/Storage  

• DSCATS Operability  

 

Wednesday, 25 Sep 2024 

0730-0800:      Muster – CAPT Urwiller 

0800-0900:      USFFC DSCATS FOR DEPLOYMENTS / Q&A – Mr. Wil Thompson 

0900-1000:     LTC Hahn DCO Expectations for NEPLO Participation / Q&A 

1000-1015      Break 

1015-1100:      DSCA/NEPLO Program Update CAPT Music / Washburn / Urwiller / Bob Gulley 

• ADOS Activations 

• Reorganization and Road Ahead 

1100-1230:      Lunch 

1230-1630:      LRTP Development 

• DCO Priorities and requirements 

• CO Priorities (A,B,C,D) 

• Exercise and CERTEX Plans 

• REGCOM Requirements 

• Projected “at risk” missions/events   

• Event Funding Classification 

1800:              Group Dinner – TBD 

 

Thursday, 26 Sep 2024 

0730-0800:      Muster - CAPT Urwiller 

0800-1000     FEB HD DSCA Exercise  

• Timeline / Joint Agenda 

• Navy Training / MOBEX 

• Logistics 

• Planning Process (Lead Planner – CAPT David Salmons) 

1000-1015:    Break 

1015-1100:   Activation (ADOS) SOP update – CAPT Washburn / CAPT Urwiller 

1100-1130     Enlisted Management; Developing Great Leaders – DCCM Perkins 

1130-1300:      Lunch 

1300-1630:      SOP Review CO Inputs and Revamp SOP – CO's 

1400-1430:    CNIC N3 Monthly Sync – CAPT Music / Washburn / Bob Gulley / Kelly Jones 

           

Friday, 27 Sep 2024 

0730-0800:      Muster - CAPT Urwiller 

0800-1100:    CO Open Forum and departure 

 

 

 

 

Where is the requirement to put NEPLOs in States and FEMA regions?

 

The Department of Defense (DoD) instruction that outlines the requirement for the Navy to place one Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer (EPLO) in each state is DoD Instruction 3025.16, titled "Military Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer (EPLO) Programs". This instruction establishes the policies and assigns responsibilities for the EPLO program across the services, including the Navy.

According to DoDI 3025.16, each military service (Army, Navy, Air Force, etc.) is directed to maintain a cadre of EPLOs who are responsible for coordinating military support to civil authorities (MSCA) during domestic emergencies. The instruction requires that EPLOs be assigned at the state and regional levels to ensure coverage and effective liaison during disasters or significant emergencies.

For the Navy specifically, this means assigning at least one EPLO (NEPLO for the Navy) in each state to ensure coordination with state emergency management agencies, regional FEMA offices, and other relevant local entities. The EPLOs act as the Navy's representatives in disaster response efforts, ensuring that naval resources and capabilities can be effectively integrated into broader federal and state response activities.

How are DOD EPLOs defined in the Joint Pubs

 

In Joint Publication 3-28: Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA), Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officers (EPLOs) are defined as key military representatives who serve as liaisons between the Department of Defense (DoD) and civil authorities during domestic operations. EPLOs are responsible for facilitating communication and coordination between military commands and civil emergency management agencies at various levels (federal, state, and local) to support DSCA missions.

Here are the key roles and responsibilities of EPLOs as defined in JP 3-28:

1. Liaison Function: EPLOs are assigned to work with various federal agencies (like FEMA), state emergency management agencies, and other civil authorities to provide a direct communication link to military resources. They assist in ensuring that the DoD's capabilities are appropriately requested and utilized during civil emergencies or disasters.

2. Coordination of DoD Support: EPLOs help facilitate the deployment and use of military resources by coordinating requests for assistance from civil authorities. They ensure that the DoD’s involvement is properly integrated into civil response operations, helping avoid duplication of efforts and ensuring the efficient use of military assets.

3. Advisory Role: EPLOs advise both military commanders and civilian agencies on the capabilities and limitations of military resources during DSCA operations. They assist civil authorities in understanding how to request DoD support properly, ensuring that requests comply with legal frameworks and DoD policies.

4. Regional and State-Level Presence: EPLOs are often assigned at both regional (FEMA regions) and state levels to provide consistent support during disaster response operations. Their geographic distribution allows for quicker response and more localized coordination efforts.

5. Expertise in DoD Capabilities and DSCA Process: EPLOs are knowledgeable about the DSCA process, DoD capabilities, and the legal authorities under which the DoD operates in domestic support roles. This makes them invaluable in ensuring that military support is used effectively and within the legal constraints of federal law (e.g., Stafford Act, Posse Comitatus Act).

In summary, JP 3-28 defines EPLOs as key facilitators in the coordination and implementation of military support to civil authorities, ensuring that DoD capabilities are efficiently and lawfully integrated into domestic emergency response operations.

What is the purpose for having DOD EPLOs.

 

EPLOs serve as critical liaisons between the Department of Defense (DoD) and civil authorities to coordinate and facilitate military support during domestic emergencies, natural disasters, and other incidents requiring Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA). Their primary responsibilities include:

1. Facilitating Military-Civil Coordination: EPLOs act as key points of contact between military commands and federal, state, and local authorities (e.g., FEMA, state emergency managers) to ensure that military assistance is integrated efficiently and effectively into civil emergency response efforts.

2. Advising Civil and Military Leadership: EPLOs provide expert advice to both civil authorities and military commands on the capabilities, limitations, and appropriate use of DoD assets in response to requests for assistance. They help civil authorities navigate the proper channels to request military support under DSCA guidelines.

3. Ensuring Compliance with Legal Frameworks: EPLOs ensure that military support complies with federal laws and regulations, including the Posse Comitatus Act, and aligns with the National Response Framework (NRF) and other emergency management protocols.

4. Rapid Response to Domestic Emergencies: EPLOs are trained and ready to be quickly deployed to support civil authorities during emergencies, disasters, and other contingencies, ensuring the timely and effective use of military resources to protect life, property, and public safety.

In essence, EPLOs are essential facilitators of the DoD’s role in providing timely and legally compliant support to civil authorities during national emergencies, helping bridge the gap between military capabilities and civilian needs.

What is the specific purpose for having Navy EPLOs clarified under OPNAVINST 3440.16F?

 

Under OPNAVINST 3440.16F, the primary purpose of Navy Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officers (NEPLOs) is to serve as key Navy liaisons to civil authorities during incidents requiring Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA). NEPLOs are responsible for facilitating communication and coordination between the Navy and federal, state, and local agencies, especially during domestic emergencies or disaster response efforts.

Specific purposes of NEPLOs under OPNAVINST 3440.16F include:

1. Liaison Role: NEPLOs act as Navy representatives in emergency operations centers (EOCs) at federal, state, and local levels. They ensure effective communication between the Navy and civil authorities during incidents that require military support.

2. Facilitate Navy Support: NEPLOs help civil authorities understand the capabilities, limitations, and resources that the Navy can provide during natural disasters, man-made incidents, or other emergencies, ensuring that military resources are used appropriately and effectively.

3. Coordination of Military Resources: NEPLOs coordinate the deployment and use of Navy assets to support civil authorities, aligning Navy resources with the needs of the emergency or disaster situation, while also ensuring compliance with Navy policies and legal constraints.

4. Advising Civil Authorities: NEPLOs provide advice to civil authorities on how to request and integrate military assistance, including the correct procedures for requesting federal assistance under the National Response Framework (NRF) and related laws such as the Stafford Act.

5. Supporting DSCA Mission: NEPLOs play a critical role in the overall Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) mission by ensuring the Navy’s capabilities are seamlessly integrated into the broader disaster response effort, alongside other military branches and federal agencies like FEMA.

In summary, NEPLOs under OPNAVINST 3440.16F focus on enhancing Navy support for civil authorities during domestic emergencies through effective coordination, communication, and liaison efforts.

Why are NEPLOs IMA's

 

Under DoD Instruction 1235.11, which governs the Management of Individual Mobilization Augmentees (IMA), the primary purpose of designating EPLOs (Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officers) as Individual Mobilization Augmentees (IMA) is to ensure that they are readily available, trained, and equipped to provide specialized support during domestic emergencies. IMAs, including EPLOs, are reservists who can be rapidly mobilized to augment active duty forces or fill critical roles in response to specific requirements.

Key purposes of making EPLOs part of the IMA program under this instruction include:

1. Availability for Emergency Response: IMAs are subject to immediate mobilization, making EPLOs accessible for quick deployment to support civil authorities during emergencies.
2. Maintaining Readiness: IMAs, including EPLOs, are required to undergo regular training and maintain a high level of readiness to fulfill their liaison duties effectively.
3. Integration with Civil and Military Authorities: As IMAs, EPLOs are positioned to seamlessly integrate into DoD response efforts, providing a bridge between military resources and civilian agencies like FEMA during disaster or emergency operations.

By being part of the IMA structure, EPLOs have the flexibility and capability to rapidly respond in support of Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) missions.

DoD Instruction 1235.11, Management of Individual Mobilization Augmentees (IMA), sets the framework for how reservists are utilized in critical roles that augment active duty forces, particularly in specialized functions. While the instruction does not specifically name EPLOs, it implies that EPLOs should be IMAs through the following key principles:

1. Purpose of IMAs: The instruction outlines that IMAs are reservists assigned to specific, critical positions where their expertise is needed to augment active duty forces. Since EPLOs provide specialized support in coordinating military assistance with civil authorities, they fit the profile of personnel who should be maintained in a readiness status to augment active forces during emergencies.

2. Rapid Mobilization: IMA reservists are positioned to be quickly mobilized to meet the demands of specific missions. EPLOs, whose primary function is to act as liaisons during domestic emergencies, benefit from this flexibility, as their role often requires swift activation in response to disaster situations.

3. Training and Readiness: The instruction emphasizes the need for IMAs to maintain regular training and readiness, which is essential for EPLOs to perform their duties effectively during a crisis. Since EPLOs are responsible for understanding both military capabilities and civil emergency needs, this aligns with the IMA program’s requirements for continuous preparedness.

4. Critical and Unique Roles: IMAs are assigned to positions that are critical but may not require full-time active duty staffing. EPLOs, being highly specialized and not always needed on a full-time basis, align with this principle. The IMA structure allows them to be called upon when their expertise is necessary, without requiring permanent active-duty status.

In these ways, DoD Instruction 1235.11 implies that EPLOs should be IMAs, as the structure of the IMA program provides the necessary flexibility, readiness, and specialized support for EPLO functions within the context of Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA).

  

EPLO Program

 

It is crucial to clarify that the Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer (EPLO) Program is a Department of Defense (DoD) program of record, not an individual military service program. EPLOs execute the DoD's Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) mission under the Tactical Control (TACON) of the Defense Coordinating Officers (DCOs).

Individual military services do not have their own independent DSCA missions. Instead, they operate solely in support of the broader DoD DSCA mission, following specific military orders (FRAGOs) under the direction of NORTHCOM or INDOPACOM. No military service branch has an independent DSCA mission to support. Therefore, any NEPLO billets that are not within the TACON construct to the DCO cannot be considered DoD EPLO billets. Instead, these billets function as service Liaison Officer (LNO) positions, only augmenting the command staff to which they are assigned.

Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF): Military service branches do not have individual EPLO Programs. As a result, NEPLO billets not directly aligned with supporting the DoD DSCA mission under TACON to the DCO are merely LNO billets intended to augment the staff of the assigned command.

The Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer (EPLO) Program is a Department of Defense (DoD) program, not an individual military service program. EPLOs execute the DoD's Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) mission under the Tactical Control (TACON) of the Defense Coordinating Officers (DCOs). No military service has its own independent EPLO program or DSCA mission; instead, all services support the DoD EPLO Program and operate under the direction of NORTHCOM or INDOPACOM, following their specific military orders (FRAGOs) to execute the DOD DSCA Mission.

BLUF: If billets are to be cut from the EPLO program, it is critical not to cut the core billets performing the DoD DSCA mission; instead, reduce the billets that merely augment the staffs of commands not directly executing the DoD mission.

 August 29, 2024

 RESILIENT FORTRESS

27-31 January 2025

                     

Joint Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer (EPLO)

Homeland Defense/Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) National Exercise

Navy Hotels

NEPLO REDUCTION COA's

 

 

The DoD Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer (EPLO) Program is an essential component of the Department of Defense’s (DoD) strategy to ensure effective emergency response and coordination during crises. EPLOs play a pivotal role in bridging the DoD with federal, state, and local emergency management efforts.

Key aspects of the EPLO Program include:

1. Coordination: EPLOs are instrumental in facilitating communication and collaboration between the DoD and various emergency management agencies. They ensure that DoD resources and support are effectively integrated with broader response efforts.

2. Support and Liaison: Acting as liaisons, EPLOs help merge DoD capabilities with those of other organizations involved in emergency response, including federal, state, and local agencies. They are dedicated representatives of the DoD’s Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) program, not representatives of their individual services.

3. Training and Exercises: EPLOs are actively involved in organizing and participating in training sessions and emergency exercises. These activities are designed to prepare all parties for effective response and ensure that response plans are well-understood and practiced.

4. Assessment and Improvement: They support the evaluation of emergency response operations by reviewing after-action reports and recommending improvements for future responses.

5. Preparedness Planning: EPLOs contribute to the development and refinement of emergency preparedness plans and procedures, ensuring readiness for a wide range of potential emergencies and disasters.

State and Regional Representation:

• State Engagement: Each state is assigned a dedicated service EPLO who engages directly with the state Adjutant General and the Governor. This role is crucial in representing the DoD DSCA response efforts, ensuring that DoD’s support is effectively integrated into state-level disaster response and preparedness activities.

• FEMA Regions: There are at least two EPLOs assigned to each FEMA region, providing enhanced capacity for coordination and support across broader geographic areas.

The presence of EPLOs in every state and FEMA region is critical to the overall preparedness and effectiveness of the DoD’s disaster response. They are vital in preparing and coordinating the DoD’s comprehensive response to disasters, ensuring that the necessary resources and support are available and effectively utilized.