JP 3-28, Civil Support - Federation of American Scientists

Appendix B
f. When DOD forces are detailed to other federal agencies, mission-specific RUF will be used.
These RUF must be approved by the SecDef and the federal agency concerned.
g. DOD units under USCG control and conducting law enforcement support operations or maritime
homeland security support operations will follow the Coast Guard Use of Force Policy, Commandant,
United States Coast Guard Instruction 16247.1, US Coast Guard Maritime Law Enforcement
Manual for employing warning shots and disabling fire, and follow the SROE/SRUF and/or mission
specific use of force rules for all other purpose. However, DOD forces under USCG control retain the
right of self-defense.
h. When DOD forces under DOD control operate in coordination with other federal agencies,
the applicable RUF will be coordinated with the on-scene federal agency personnel.
i. CCDRs may augment these SRUF as necessary by submitting requests for missionspecific
RUF to the CJCS, for approval by the SecDef (IAW CJCSI 3121.01B, Standing Rules
of Engagement/Standing Rules for the Use of Force for US Forces).
B-2
“It is an unbending rule of law, that the exercise of military power, where the rights
of the citizen are concerned, shall never be pushed beyond what the exigency
requires.”
3. Procedures
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Noah Swayne,
Raymond v. Thomas, 91 US 712, 716 (1875)
Normally, force is to be used only as a last resort, and should be the minimum necessary.
The use of force must be reasonable in intensity, duration, and magnitude based on the totality of
the circumstances to counter the threat. If force is required, nonlethal force is authorized and may be
used to control a situation and accomplish the mission, or to provide self-defense of DOD forces,
defense of non-DOD persons in the vicinity if directly related to the assigned mission, or in defense of the
protected property, when doing so is reasonable under the circumstances. Lethal force is authorized
only when all lesser means have failed or cannot reasonably be employed and the circumstances otherwise
justify the use of lethal force.
a. General direction regarding the appropriate use of force comes from a conceptual framework
known as the “Use of Force Continuum.” The Use of Force Continuum is generally seamless and does
not require movement from one level to the next in sequential order. The Use of Force Continuum can
be divided into five broad categories related to the goals of the military units providing support and
behavior of subject audience. They are: Intimidate/Control, Deny/Obstruct/Impede, Disorient/Distract,
Disable/Incapacitate, and Cause Death/Serious Injury (see Figure B-1).
(1) Intimidate/Control. In most cases, the subject audience will comply with the
verbal instructions or commands. When time and circumstances permit, the individual(s) or
JP 3-28