Operation Garden Plot

The Department of Defense Civil Disturbance Plan, also known by its cryptonym GARDEN PLOT, was a general US Army and National Guard plan to respond to major domestic civil disturbances within the United States.[1] The plan was developed in response to the civil disorders of the 1960s and fell under the control of the U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM). It provided Federal military and law enforcement assistance to local governments during times of major civil disturbances.

The Garden Plot plan—drafted after the Watts, Newark, and Detroit riots—captures the acrimonious times when the document was drawn up. The "Plot" warns against "racial unrest," as well as "anti-draft" and "anti-Vietnam" elements."[2]

The Pentagon activated Garden Plot to restore order during the 1992 Los Angeles Riots.[3] Garden Plot was superseded by USNORTHCOM Concept Plan (CONPLAN) 2502 following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.[4][5] Under Homeland Security restructuring, it has been suggested that similar models be followed:

Oversight of these homeland security missions should be provided by the National Guard Bureau based on the long-standing Garden Plot model in which National Guard units are trained and equipped to support civil authorities in crowd control and civil disturbance missions.

— Major General Richard C. Alexander, ARNGUS (Ret.), Executive Director, National Guard Association of the United States, Testimony in the Senate Appropriations Committee Hearing on Homeland Defense, April 11, 2002[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Garden Plot / CONPLAN 2502 (Civil Disturbance Operations)". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  2. ^ Nate, Jones (12 August 2011). "Document Friday: "Garden Plot:" The Army's Emergency Plan to Restore "Law and Order" to America". NSA Archive. The George Washington University. Retrieved 21 March 2012.,
  3. ^ "Brigadier General Matthew P. Beevers". General Officer Management. National Guard Bureau. August 2012. Archived from the original on 21 December 2012. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  4. ^ "US Department of the Army Civil Disturbance Plan "GARDEN PLOT" 10-September-1968" (PDF). Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  5. ^ How the Army Runs: A Senior Leader Reference Handbook, 2011-2012. U.S. Army War College. 2011–2012. p. 515. ISBN 9781304052940. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  6. ^ http://appropriations.senate.gov/releases/record.cfm?id=182288 [dead link‍]