The U.S. military is first and foremost a warfighting organization, but there is another area where the military in general and the Sea Services in particular can and do play an important role: humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR). The logistical capabilities, transportation assets, capital, and durability of the military have made it a go-to for delivering and distributing aid to those in need, especially when the austerity of a post-disaster environment proves too insurmountable a hurdle for civilian aid groups. Despite this, there are a number of issues with the military’s involvement in HA/DR operations. The military’s acquisition process is an enormous financial drain, which can deflate U.S. aid provisions when funds are directed to the Department of Defense (DoD) itself, as was the case with the nearly $700 million for post-earthquake relief in Haiti.