Whether for large-scale combat operations, irregular warfare, or great power competition, advantage goes those with a superior learning network from civil-military networks that strengthen alliances and attract new partners. The war in Ukraine is affirming the criticality of understanding and integrating civil considerations and contextual understanding to defeat adversaries more quickly and decisively, consolidate and shape a more favorable post-conflict environment, and prevent or deter conflict. The Army and joint force must see capabilities like CA as maneuver forces in the psycho-cultural spaces of war and integrated deterrance - gaining, maintaining, and denying political and informational positional advantages. As premier forces to win without fighting, they must be organized, managed, and resourced with the same seriousness as combat forces. With an active sense of readiness from their constant forward presence, CA and

its NATO CIMIC allies and interorganizational partners can provide civil-military situational understanding, strategic early warning, and superior politico-military decision-making through continuous civil reconnaissance, engagement, civil networking, and civil knowledge integration.

Given new Army operations doctrine including multi-domain operations (MDO), the designation of CA as an “information force,” and what NATO calls “cognitive warfare,” how should the expanded Civil Affairs Corps integrate institutionally with supported military commands and civilian agencies to become a better force to win without fighting? What changes in doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership and education, personnel, facilities, and policy should take place within and beyond current capacities? How should they be prioritized and implemented? What levels of joint, interorganizational, multinational, and commercial coordination are needed?

From the speakers, workshops, and Civil Affairs Issue Papers, the Association and friends will enable the CA Corps to offer ways ahead to related institutional and policy leadership. Click here for speaker biographies.