A DSCA mission always begins with what from a local civil authority?

• A. A Request For Assistance
• B. A Presidential Directive
• C. A Federal Emergency Declaration
• D. A Civil Authority's Letter of Intent

Answer: (A)

In DSCA, federal military support is triggered by the civil authorities who need help. The mission begins with a formal Request For Assistance from the local civil authority. This request identifies what is needed, where, for how long, and at what level of detail, and it starts the coordination and planning process to provide the required support. Without this request, federal involvement isn’t activated, even in a serious event.

Presidential directives or federal declarations may come later as the situation evolves and more authority or resources are needed, but they are not the starting point for a DSCA mission. A Civil Authority’s Letter of Intent isn’t the formal trigger used to initiate DSCA.