The functional Lines between traditional warfighting, law enforcement, physical security, and cyber crime have blurred.

DoD defines forensics simply, “The application of multidisciplinary scientific processes to establish facts.”  DoD applies criminal forensic capabilities and technologies normally used in law enforcement to meet needs in national security and counterterrorism.

Forensic science techniques and tools are extremely useful in identifying insurgents and terrorists.  DoD uses them to identify or link people, places, things, organizations, and events.  Forensic tools and procedures such as latent fingerprints, DNA, firearms analysis, document examination, digital evidence, pathology, and odontology help DoD pursue terrorists and their accomplices.

Forensics traditionally apply scientific knowledge to criminal investigations.  Military operations in overseas contingencies demand new forensic science capabilities and practice, techniques that can be reliably used on the battlefield, in exigent circumstances, by non-professionals.