Any advice or tips on the Civil Affairs Selection Course? I'm strongly considering attending.

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 18:23:37 -0500

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2016 3:47 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 03:47:06 -0500

All I'll say is be physically fit and have an open mind. Be social in your team because that plays a crucial role; don't be that reclusive, weird dude that nobody likes because that will get you nowhere in the CA branch. I won't tell you anything about CAAS because it's meant to put you out of your element. Even if I wanted to, I went in 2012 and I'm sure it's completely different now.
If you decide to go, good luck!

Response by CPL Luke Saunders made Mar 8 at 2016 9:41 AM

CPL Luke Saunders — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 09:41:58 -0500

Pen, paper, pocket knife. Always have a translator by your side, write everything down, make NO promises, offer no guarantees. CA is one of, if not the most fun MOS. You're gonna love it. But make sure to further your career path. I haven't found much call for my CA ninja skills out of uniform and unless you have a masters degree the civies won't hire you to continue doing CA work.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2016 10:28 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 10:28:48 -0500

Teamwork.
Everyone has a job, not just the person engaging. Designate personnel for security, observing the non-principals, and spot engaging secondary officials.
The Q-course is heavy on misdirections. If your conversation takes a turn to the surreal, such as weird outbursts or people becoming emotional for no real reason, stuff is about to go South.

Make sure you secure your information requirements and resist efforts to suck you into unrelated topics. Employ your own misdirection to confuse the role players on what information you are after.

Find out who has experience in what on your team and USE IT.

This is not a job for wallflowers or followers. Don't be one.

You need to be physically prepared for a challenging course. The physical piece doesn't drop too many enrolled students, but it comes as a rude awakening if you expect a gentlemen's course.

Response by SFC David Davenport made Mar 8 at 2016 11:51 AM

SFC David Davenport — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 11:51:15 -0500

You are always being evaluated. Even when you think no one is watching there is a process to get feedback one way or the other. Be yourself but also realize your evaluators are going to be asked "Is this the kind of person I would want on my team?" Your peers will also be asked that question. Focus on learning and getting things done as a team. Good luck.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2016 3:10 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 15:10:39 -0500

I'll say one more thing: Don't confuse active CA and reserve CA. They are completely different things.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2016 5:32 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 17:32:30 -0500

team work team work and more team work, everybody pulles the load, 2008-2009, as a 68w/ 38b (Q), i drove maxpro, was turret gunner, pay agent, i loved it, but as the army reserves go get promoted move to another unit mine was back to medical, when i first got into CA my career counsellor said "to win the hearts and mind" that pretty much sold me

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2016 9:37 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 09:37:41 -0500

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/what-kinds-of-things-can-i-expect-at-the-civil-affairs-assessment-and-selection-course

They can change CAAS - but the principles will always remain the same.

What kinds of things can I expect at the Civil Affairs Assessment and Selection Course? |...

Hey whats up everyone. So I am in the process of building my packet for Civil Affairs Assessment and Selection Course. What kinds of things can I expect at the selection course? If anyone out there has been through the course, what can be expected and what can I do to better prepare myself for the course?

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2016 2:47 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 14:47:38 -0500

It changes all the time, prepare physically and be yourself. The cadre are assessing for the right people, not someone who is going to put on a facade to get selected. If you are the right person you'll get selected, if not, thanks but no thanks. Like it has been said, you will be required to talk to people and gather information, and you will work in a team. Don't mean to sound cryptic or like an ass but the point of CAAS, like SFAS and POAS, is to pick the right person, not just be a way out of a different MOS.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2016 9:53 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 09:53:05 -0500

Don't be a know it all. Be yourself (which is hopefully personable). Listen to your team, lead when your in charge, execute when your not. It's better the team fails than a person.