Which term is designated as part of decisive action involving civil authority support?

• A. Retrograde
• B. Tempo
• C. Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA)
• D. Attack

Answer: (C)

The concept here is how the military coordinates with civilian authorities during emergencies. The term that fits this idea is Defense Support to Civil Authorities, or DSCA. This label specifically designates the military’s role in providing support to civil authorities on domestic occasions such as natural disasters, emergencies, or civil disturbances, whenever requested or authorized by law. It emphasizes aiding civilians rather than engaging in combat or offensive operations, and it can cover activities like disaster response, evacuation, search and rescue, and security support.

Why this is the best fit: DSCA is the formal term for military involvement to assist civilian authorities, which matches the idea of decisive action that includes civil authority support. The other terms describe different military concepts: retrograde means withdrawing or moving away from a position, tempo refers to the pace of operations, and attack is an offensive action against an adversary. None of those address providing support to civil authorities, so they don’t fit the scenario.