To those who have served or are currently serving...

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

No, you're charged with the defense of the country from foreign powers, the police are charged with the defense of the people from internal threats.

IRRELAVENT.

Just as law enforcement officers qualified to perform military duty (i.e. those in the National Guard or Reserves) can be converted (called up) from civilian police duty against internal threats to active military duty against external threats, so too can active duty military personnel who are qualified in law enforcement procedures be converted to civilian status for law enforcement purposes and it can all be done with the stroke of a pen.

Each branch of service has a regulation covering this action. The Army's regulation is AR 635-200, CHAPTER 5, SEC II. Any service member may be separated from active duty at any time "For the convenience of the government." That literally means for the government's MERE convenience. It's the catch all regulation that allows the military to downsize as necessary without breach of contract with service members. It also allows the government to separate from active duty a company, brigade; or, even a division and transfer it from the Department of Defense to the Department of Homeland Security (rather than the Reserves) for fulfillment of the service members' obligations [the regulation can be applied unilaterally]. Military service members can be transferred to civilian General Schedule (GS) positions in the same pay grades with a comparable chain of authority (vs command) structure.

It was inevitable that as the active duty military went to the Total Force concept, which downsized the active components and emphasized reliance on the Reserves and Guard to be activated during conflict, that the process would be reversed to augment civilian law enforcement during domestic crises. The "John Wayne motherfuckers" who don't like it are inconsequential in capability, numbers, and organization. They will fall by the wayside: that includes you.