Due to the high level of readiness and their comprehensive capabilities, armed forces are demanded or expected to contribute to the response to incident and disasters of natural, technogenic or manmade origin. Military units may provide surge capacity, unique capabilities, long-term support to relief and recovery or even be the first to respond to a disaster. This article reviews the European experience in the organisation for using armed forces in domestic disaster response and relief operations, models of military employment, examples of military formations specially tailored for disaster response, multinational disaster response and relief formations, and specific military capabilities used in domestic response and relief operations.