DOD supplies and services are provided for disaster and humanitarian purposes only after approval by Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (ASD [ISA]) on behalf of the Secretary of Defense. DOD provides supplies and services from the most expedient source, which is normally the unified command from whose theater the foreign disaster or humanitarian assistance request emanates.

The commander of a unified command, when directed, assumes the primary coordinating role for provision of DOD supplies and services. The military departments and joint staff support the designated commander of a unified command as required, principally by coordinating interdepartmental approval and funding processes as herein described through the DASD HRA (Global Affairs).

When a foreign disaster or humanitarian assistance request emanates from a country not assigned to a unified command under the Unified Command Plan, the joint staff/J4 assumes the primary coordinating role in conjunction with DASD HRA.

PROCEDURES

Requests for DOD assistance come from DOS or USAID through OFDA. Upon receipt--

Step 1. OFDA routes the requests to ASD (ISA).

Step 2. When DOD approves the request, it then sends it to the joint staff/J4 for action.

Step 3. Upon receipt of the approved request, the joint staff/J4, if necessary, activates a 24-hour response team in the LRC and effects appropriate coordination among unified and specified commands, services, and defense agency staffs.

Step 4. The J4/LRC then determines the appropriate time to promulgate the requests for activation of comparable service or agency response cells.

Step 5. The LRC is augmented as necessary by USTRANSCOM and DLA liaison elements and coordinates with other joint staff directorates, as required.

The OFDA request will contain a list of items to be procured and provided by DOD. If items are unavailable in the unified command, or if the foreign disaster or humanitarian assistance request emanates from a country not assigned to a unified command, the J4/LRC will locate the requested items through DLA, a service, or a supporting CINC; calculate the cost, plus shipment, by the Defense Transportation System; and advise OFDA. Costs for disaster assistance are computed at the DOD rate.

Step 6. If OFDA accepts the costs, the J4/LRC requests DASD HRA approval for the commitment of DOD resources.

Step 7. If OSD approves the request as outlined above, the J4/LRC obtains funding and billing information and resource disposition instructions from OFDA coordinates shipment; and notifies all concerned.

Step 8. The J4/LRC ensures that support of OFDA requests are rendered with highest priority.

Step 9. If deployment of military medical, communications, engineer, or transport units or personnel requires other than routine use of transportation port support personnel, the J4/LRC obtains per diem, operational, and transportation costs from the appropriate CINC or service. After obtaining OFDA funding and OSD approval, the joint staff director of operations publishes a CJCS deployment order.

REIMBURSEMENT

The J4/LRC receives fund cites from USAID/OFDA for each item and/or service required from DOD elements. The J4/LRC provides the fund cite to the service, agency supplier, USTRANSCOM, or transportation component commands for each action at the time the action is directed. USAID/OFDA only reimburses for those items and/or services it has requested.

Even though a CINC or on-scene military commander may act to preserve or save lives on his own initiative if urgency or timeliness requires, reimbursement of expended component service funds is not assured. CINCs and services will not be reimbursed if the President or the Secretary of Defense exercises drawdown authority. Each DOD element submits billings for reimbursement of costs incurred for supplies and/or services to DASD HRA in accordance with guidelines in DOD Directive 5100.46.

TASKING MESSAGE

Tasking messages from the J4/LRC will--

• Contain the USAID/OFDA fund cite and funding limit and advise the tasked element of the proper billing address and the joint staff point of contact.

• Require tasked units to provide clear text, itemized billing information, and the tasked unit point of contact.

• Advise tasked units that approval must be obtained before exceeding the funding limit and that all bills will be submitted in the next monthly billing cycle following completion of the activity.