The response must be 250 words and use at least 2 scholarly citation(s) in APA format. Any sources cited must have been published within the last five years. Acceptable sources include texts, articles, presentations, the Bible, blogs, videos, etc.

Textbook: Taylor, R. W., & Swanson, C. R. (2019). Terrorism, intelligence, and homeland security (2nd ed.). Boston: Pearson. ISBN: 9780134818146.

***RYAN***

As the discussion prompt suggests, many organizations’ sole purpose within the United States is to provide various types of protections and defenses from internal and external adversarial forces or problems. This week’s module highlighted two specific organizations, among others, that protect the United States from terrorism and natural disasters: the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). Beginning with the former, the FBI’s main priority is preventing and responding to terrorist attacks within the United States (Federal Bureau of Investigations, 2021; Taylor & Swanson, 2019). The FBI employs a specialized antiterrorism group labeled as the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF). The JTTF works alongside other countries’ federal law enforcement, military organizations, and other antiterrorism task forces in order to disrupt and dismantle terrorist organizations maintaining international influence. Unfortunately for the United States and the world, terrorism has grown exponentially due to the increased use of technological resources, such as websites and social media platforms (Ellard, 2021). Ellard (2021) also suggests that lone terrorists have been encouraged by radical jihadist organizations, such as the Islamic State, to rise up and individually attack the United States on their own accord. The FBI has difficulty tracking down lone wolf terrorists because many may not publicize their intentions or, by the time their intentions of attack have been publicized, it is too late (Ellard, 2021; Taylor & Swanson, 2019). While the FBI is conducting its work to dismantle domestic and foreign terrorism, they also make suggestions to United States citizens through routine publications regarding steps to recognize, prevent, and protect people (including themselves) from terroristic activity (Federal Bureau of Investigations, 2021).

       The other mentioned organization, the USSOCOM, has several functions similar to the FBI; however, their operations are militaristic. The USSOCOM’s purpose is to protect the United States to promote the policies and wishes of the government (United States Special Operations Command, 2019). The USSOCOM is a joint special forces group formed by Congress and controlled by the Department of Defense (DeSon, 2020). The command group combines otherwise autonomous special forces groups within the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, where they conduct various missions specializing in force on force warfare, unconventional warfare, reconnaissance, cultural and critical leader development within austere environments, psychological exploitation, intelligence operations, and more (DeSon, 2020; United States Special Operations Command, 2019). USSOCOM is a necessary Congressional development among the United States military, as it unifies special forces units under one command to streamline operations and communications. DeSon (2020) explains that many military members strive to join the USSOCOM within their respective branches to deploy more, often during counterterrorism missions. Special forces members are often thought of as the most fierce and deadly combative members the United States possesses. Flanick et al. (2019) explain that the USSOCOM has even been developing a type of battlefield technology incorporating an exoskeleton suit designed to drastically increase the survivability and lethality of those in combat.

       Nonetheless, the FBI and USSOCOM wear many different proverbial hats in order to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the United States. The scripture within the Holy Bible explains the importance of fierceness during direct combat missions “When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God is with thee” (King James Bible, 1769/2021, Deuteronomy 20:1). The Bible also discusses the importance of patience within critical leader development, which is many times what the USSOCOM is called on to accomplish, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (King James Bible, 1769/2021, 1 Corinthians 15:58).