The task of the modern armed forces has become to respond to military and non-military threats. Due to the intensity and size of non-military threats, civil services, which are established by the provisions of laws to combat them and counteract their effects, often become helpless in the face of the situation. In such cases, the help and commitment of all available forces at the disposal of the state, including the armed forces, is essential. The Territorial Defense Forces (TDF) constitute a rapidly developing, flexible military structure of the state, capable of providing aid in crisis situations and increasing the security of citizens. Therefore, they constitute an important element of support for public administration and society in crisis management situations. The aim of the article is to identify the fundamental role of Territorial Defense Forces in the implementation of crisis response tasks in the country. The normative acts defining and conditioning the participation of military entities in crisis management were analyzed. The analysis of TDF tasks and competences allows to find a significant element of support for public administration bodies in counteracting and fighting crises. The article attempts to identify the needs and possibilities of TDF operation in the crisis management system.