The Association of the United States Army’s Institute of Land Warfare has published the fifth volume of the annual discussion of the Civil Affairs Regiment on the future of Civil Affairs. The 2018-19 Civil Affairs Issue Papers on “Optimizing Civil Affairs” are available for download on the Civil Affairs Association website.
The 2018 Civil Affairs Centennial & Symposium at Ft. Bragg, NC last November, at which the Papers were presented, was a seminal event in “strengthening the Regiment to secure the victory” as the executive summary. While Colonel Irvin Hunt’s report on post-World War I military government in the Rhineland marked the beginning of modern civil affairs, explained Association president Col. (Ret.) Joe Kirlin in the the foreword, “it also evokes many enduring issues in maturing this unique and vital strategic landpower capability into a fully-fledged member of the Army family.”
As a platform for the open exchange of ideas involving those with the greatest stake in the future of their force, the Symposium, including the workshop, keynote presentation, civil and military panels, and paper presentations, helps policy-level, Army, and civil affairs leaders at command and institutional levels shape the future of civil affairs. The U.S. Army JFK Special Warfare Center and School, which holds the proponent office for civil affairs and looks at force development and doctrine issues, has also found them highly useful in its doctrinal and force development deliberations.
“The quality of these papers becomes better and better each year,” Issue Papers Committee Chairman Brig. Gen. (ret.) Bruce Bingham noted.
“[It is] challenging to foster innovation within large organizations like the military,” paper author Maj. Shafi Saiduddin added. “The Association, working closely with the Proponent, has really been a catalyst for change, sort of like a startup incubator. I haven't seen anything similar in other military branches or government organizations.”
Papers copies of the Civil Affairs Issue Papers will be not be available at the Civil Affairs Roundtable at the National Guard Armory in Washington, D.C. on April 2nd. However, they will be available by request through the Civil Affairs Association or CA Proponent at the U.S. Army Special Warfare Center & School at Ft. Bragg, NC, and at future Association events.
In addition to the executive summary and Symposium Workshop Report, this year’s Issue Papers include:
• “The Evolution of Civil Affairs and Interagency Partnerships in Sub-Saharan Africa” by Ryan McCannell
• “Optimizing Civil Affairs through Branding and Narrative Strategies” by Maj. Shafi Saiduddin and Sgt. 1st Class (Ret.) Robert Schafer
• “Optimizing Civil Affairs through Reorganizing the Force” by Capt. Patrick Casserleigh
• “Civil Affairs 38G Functional Specialists: From Strategy to Reality” by Maj. Giancarlo Newsome and Capt. Jesse Elmore
• “Developing Civil Affairs: Increasing Soldier Flexibility and Doctrinal Specificity” by Maj. Mazi Markel and Sgt. 1st Class Max Steiner