This chapter examines the evolving domestic role of the United States military, challenging the prevailing perception that its sole purpose is overseas operations. Despite its immense size and budget, the US military has historically maintained a professional ethic of non-partisanship and civilian control, which generally mitigated concerns about democratic subversion. However, a significant, though often overlooked, history of domestic deployments exists, ranging from civil unrest to natural disasters. The COVID-19 pandemic expanded this domestic role, with the military’s response, while civilian-led, relying heavily on its capabilities under existing legal frameworks like the Posse Comitatus and Insurrection Acts. Under US Northern Command, the military provided extensive medical support, logistical assistance (e.g., Operation Warp Speed for vaccine distribution), and humanitarian aid. Furthermore, the National Guard was widely activated for civil unrest and the January 6th Capitol insurrection. While the military’s involvement was largely successful, leveraging its logistical expertise and manpower, it prompted discussions on civil-military relations. Concerns arose regarding the potential for mission creep, resource diversion from core defence functions, and the blurring of lines between military and civilian responsibilities. The pandemic underscored the military’s invaluable, yet complex role in domestic crisis response, prompting a re-evaluation of its domestic engagement within the broader framework of civilian control.