Although Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations activities often complement each other, each battle system operates individually in support of field commanders.
Civil Affairs Soldiers are the field commander's link to the civil authorities in his area of operations. With specialists in every area of the government, they can assist a host government meet its people's needs and maintain a stable and viable civil administration.
Civil affairs units help military commanders by working with civil authorities and civilian populations in the commander’s area of operations to lessen the impact of military operations on them during peace, contingency operations and declared war. Civil Affairs forces support activities of both conventional and special operations forces, and are capable of assisting and supporting the civil administration in the area of operations.
Civil affairs specialists can quickly and systematically identify critical requirements needed by local citizens in war or disaster situations. They can also locate civil resources to support military operations, help minimize civilian interference with operations, support national assistance activities, plan and execute non-combatant evacuation, support counter-drug operations, and establish and maintain liaison or dialogue with civilian aid agencies and civilian commercial and private organizations.
In support of special operations, these culturally oriented, linguistically capable Soldiers may also be tasked to provide functional expertise for foreign internal defense operations, unconventional warfare operations and direct action missions.
The functional structure of Civil Affairs Forces and their expertise, training, and orientation provide a capability for emergency coordination and administration where political-economic structures have been incapacitated. They can help plan U.S. government interagency procedures for national or regional emergencies. They can assist civil-military planning and military support operations for theater commanders in chief. Additionally, they can coordinate military resources to support government operations, emergency actions and humanitarian assistance from natural, man-made, or war-related causes. The 96th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), with four percent of the civil affairs forces, is the only active Army civil affairs unit. The unit is readily available to deploy and provides primarily tactical support.
The remaining 96 percent of the Army’s Civil Affairs Forces are found in four Civil Affairs Commands, subordinate brigades and battalions in the Army Reserve. They provide a prime source of nation-building skills. These reserve-component Civil Affairs units include Soldiers with training and experience in public administration, public safety, public health, legal systems, labor management, public welfare, public finance, public education, civil defense, public works and utilities, public communications, public transportation, logistics, food and agricultural services, economics, property control, cultural affairs, civil information, and managing dislocated persons.
CA deployments have provided tactical support to military commanders during Operation Just Cause in Panama, Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm in Southwest Asia, support to the restoration of the Panamanian government infrastructure during Operation Promote Liberty, management of Haitian refugee camps at Guantanamo Bay, natural disaster assistance in the aftermath of Hurricanes Andrew and Iniki and, assisting humanitarian efforts in Somalia.
Civil affairs experts were also called on to help rebuild the Haitian civilian infrastructure during Operation Uphold Democracy. Active and Reserve CA Units have also participated in the ongoing NATO peacekeeping operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo, as well as other operations and exercises around the world.
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D Company, Special Operations Recruiting Battalion
The following is a guideline for Officer Candidates to use when submitting a Civil Affairs packet. These guidelines describe requirements for submission of a complete packet for the Army Special Operations Forces Board (ARSOF).
Soldier is qualified for Airborne Training. Soldiers already Airborne Qualified must submit an Individual Medical Readiness Report from AKO.
In lieu of documents that are unattainable due to operational situations such as OEF/OIF, a memo stating the reasons for the missing documents will be accepted, i.e. DLAB, unable to take the test due to deployment in OIF
.
Submit your packet as soon as possible in order to assure complete and thorough processing and to allow adequate response time should errors be discovered. Before submission, ensure all documents are included and signed. Packets can be sent via the following (listed in order of preference):
Special Operations Recruiting Battalion ATTN: D Company, Civil Affairs Recruiter P.O. Box 70180 Fort Bragg, NC 28307
Yes. Once you get selected by the board, you can discuss with CA / PSYOP Branch when you would like to begin the pipeline. They will accommodate you as best as they can.
Upon graduation, Civil Affairs officers will be assigned to the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade. Psychological Operations Officers will be assigned to the 4th Psychological Operations Group (POG). Both units are stationed at Fort Bragg, NC. As a Captain, you will be a Team Leader. This is a Branch Key and Developmental (KD) position. You will lead a Civil Affairs Team – Alpha or Psychological Operations Team – Alpha (CA / PSYOPT-A). You will be working closely with other USASOC units conducting sensitive missions world-wide.
Civil Affairs and Psychological operations officially became a branch October 1, 2006. You will be transferred to CA / PSYOP upon selection by the board.
No. You will get Branch Qualified in CA / PSYOP on your first assignment as a Team Leader.
The purpose of the Board is to identify qualified candidates for Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF). The ARSOF Board usually meets between January and April of any given year. Thus, it is prudent for interested Officers to not delay and submit their packet as soon as possible.
This is a Department of the Army Selection Board. Once you are selected you will enter the pipeline. Your Basic Branch does not have a choice to release you. They MUST release you.
No. Males and Females may apply.
Following your time at the 95th CA or 4th POG, most of your assignments will be in ARSOF. After you are Branch Qualified, there are multiple Joint assignments, positions in interagency assignments and Primary Staff at the Corps, Division and Brigade Level. However, the majority of your career will be in the ARSOF community.
No. Your training will be more mentally demanding, as opposed to the rigorous SFAS course. The degree of training is equal to the Special Forces Officer Qualification Course, but tailored to specific Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations needs. Bottom line: It will challenge you.
Visit the HRC MILPR MSG site for MSG # 06-258, dated 21 SEP 06, PSYCHOLOGICAL OPERATIONS (PO/37) AND CIVIL AFFAIRS (CA / PSYOP/38) BRANCH ACTIVATION, which illustrates the impact of branch activation on officers with a 37/38 Functional Area. You will compete with your Cohort YG for promotion in the Army Competitive Category.
AMMED Officers MAY NOT apply.
No
If you are more senior than the current target YG you will need to do a branch transfer. Your branch transfer packet should include a 4187 signed up through your chain of command, resume, letter of intent, letters of recommendation and last 3 OERs. All documents should be submitted to your basic branch. If you are more junior than the target YG you must wait. There are no authorizations for LTs within CA / PSYOP and there is no waiver for this.
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Delta Company, U.S. Army Special Operations Recruiting Battalion
Bldg. 2-1120 Ft. Bragg, NC 28310
Fax: (910) 432-9106
DSN: 239
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