The armed forces have been engaged in homeland defense since the birth of the nation, but since the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, homeland security and homeland defense are receiving much more attention. "Homeland security" and "homeland defense" are often used interchangeably, but there is in fact a distinct, definitional difference between the two, especially concerning the Armyís active role in both. That being said, there is significant cooperation between those who work in each field to create a seamless network to protect the nation.