Civil Affairs as a General Purpose Force: An Opportunity
Civil Affairs as a General Purpose Force: An Opportunity
by Phil W. Reynolds
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CA doctrine has not kept pace with the execution of CMO by maneuver forces and this is creating a dangerous seam. CA is supposed to provide the commander with expertise in the execution of tasks that deal with the civil component of the battlefield. Stability Operations, Security Assistance and Non-Lethal Targeting all are areas which need to be addressed because of their strong civil component. With publications like FM 3-07 and FM 3-0 outstripping CA doctrine, the framework of operational themes and missions to CA missions is broken. But with the creation of the 85th CA Brigade, there is an opportunity for the branch to simplify and clarify its own doctrine. As the Army’s General Purpose Force (GPF) Civil Affairs brigade takes shape there will be a greater emphasis on integration, particularly in regards to planning, conventional training, and deployments as part of a combined arms team. Nothing new needs to be created- Rather, bring CA doctrine more line with the rest of the Army and the Joint force.
Download The Full Article: Civil Affairs as a General Purpose Force: An Opportunity
Major Phil Reynolds, U.S. Army, Civil Affairs, is currently assigned as the CMO Planner for Army Central. He holds a B.A. from Saint Bonaventure University and an M.A. from the University of Oklahoma. MAJ Reynolds served with 1st Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment and the 96th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne). He has worked in Africa, Iraq, and extensively in Central Asia. He will be attending the U.S. Naval Post Graduate School this summer, pursuing a degree in Defense Analysis.
