Joint Humanitarian Operations Course (JHOC) Civil-Military Roles in International Disaster Response

Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) Military Liaison Team (MLT) is responsible for coordinating humanitarian assistance and disaster response efforts with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). The Joint Humanitarian Operations Course (JHOC) is a training program designed to educate participants on civil-military roles in international disaster response. The JHOC course book provides an overview of the U.S. foreign aid system, with a focus on humanitarian assistance and disaster response. The course covers key topics, including the U.S. Government's humanitarian assistance framework, the role of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and OFDA, and the importance of coordination between civil and military actors in disaster response. The course also includes a review of the OFDA mandate and disaster response criteria, as well as a discussion of the cluster system and humanitarian principles. Additionally, the course covers the coordination of DOD and USAID efforts, including the use of military assets and the request for DOD assistance. The JHOC course includes a range of tools and resources, including online humanitarian tools and resources, a participant CD with course materials, and a civ-mil "smart card" quick reference guide. The course also includes a series of case studies, including a review of the 2013 Haiyan response in the Philippines and a discussion of the role of the U.S. military in disaster response. The course emphasizes the importance of coordination and communication between civil and military actors in disaster response, and provides participants with a range of resources and tools to support their efforts. The course is designed to be a comprehensive training program for humanitarian professionals, and is intended to provide participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively coordinate humanitarian assistance and disaster response efforts. The course includes a review of key reference documents, including USAID/OFDA guidance cables, DOD directives, and the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act. The course also includes a discussion of the fiscal year 2015 OFDA year in review, which provides an overview of OFDA's activities and accomplishments during the 2015 fiscal year. Overall, the JHOC course is a comprehensive training program that provides participants with a range of knowledge and skills necessary to effectively coordinate humanitarian assistance and disaster response efforts. The course emphasizes the importance of coordination and communication between civil and military actors, and provides participants with a range of resources and tools to support their efforts.