How does a new Lieutenant branch into USAR Civil Affairs?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 11:03:45 -0400

Asking for a friend.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Aug 27 at 2014 11:15 AM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 11:15:19 -0400

Have you tried contacting the reserve unit you have in mind directly?

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2017 12:17 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 12:17:42 -0500

You need to be a senior 1LT to branch into CA (has been waiver able in the past), you need to find a CA unit that you want to join and then check with them for openings (most have lots of openings as we are very short handed).

Once accepted to a unit you will need to complete CAQC, a demanding course at the Special Warfare Center and School. You will also need to complete the CA Captains Career Course as well.

CA is all about interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate with civilians and other government agencies, etc... Definitely put your best foot forward in the interview!

Response by SFC George Smith made Feb 7 at 2017 12:29 AM

SFC George Smith — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 00:29:32 -0500

has he tried The Recruiters or his Branch...

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2017 5:07 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 17:07:29 -0500

2LT Faaress Parham, you could join a CA BN as a 2LT in the following branches: Signal, QM, and MI. Most CA BN will take you as a 2LT and have you support HHC and HQ. This gives you the opportunity to work with CA and decide if this is for you. Most CA Reserve units are not your typical average reserve units. They maintain a very high OPTEMPO, so if you are looking for a reserve unit to take a "knee" while you work on your masters or pursue other civilian personal goals, CA might not be for you. Again, working in one of the other staff sections will give you exposure to the Civil Affairs world. Most 1LT and CPT have to have CCC complete, before starting CAQC. Having a second language will help you and you do get pay FLPB as long as you have a qualifying score. Best of luck to you.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 11 at 2017 12:33 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Feb 2017 00:33:06 -0500

Hey 2LT Parham, I just finished the CACCC at SWCS (the school MAJ Waterhouse mentioned) last month. It is considered phase two of a four-phase transition to Civil Affairs for officers, but in another sense it is just the CCC just like every other branch has.

At the end of it we were paid a visit by the USAR branch manager for Civil Affairs. He's technically not OUR branch manager yet, because we're not CA qualified; we still hold our commission branch until we graduate from the CAQC a.k.a. phase 4. But what he said shocked us all: in his opinion, we all should have attended the CCC of our *commissioning branch* i.e. MI, SC, IN, QM, etc., NOT the Civil Affairs CCC.

Being just days away from graduating and having done a month's worth of work for the CACCC, this was terrible timing for what seemed like such important career advice. His reasoning was that you could be fully branch qualified in your first branch and still attend the CA qual course, at which point you would be a CA officer but hold multiple skill sets. You could respond to more mobilization, ADOS, and IMA opportunities on mobcop.army.mil, for example. In theory this should be a good plan, since CCC should be mostly common core subjects anyway and roughly the same across the whole army.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 27 at 2017 5:38 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 17:38:27 -0500

Reality check here,
Some of the advice is well-meaning and I do not mean disrespect to anyone,
BLUF,
1. As a 2LT there is nothing for you to do in a CA unit. Unless you want to be the UPL or the slide guy.
2. You need to go grind your teeth in your primary branch. Develop of a sense of what it is like to be an officer ( specially as a 2LT, you have a lot of work to do).
3. Learn your skills well. Spend some time in it ( MI is a good transition specially in a THT, or CI unit).
4. Spend time learning the ropes of what is like to lead troops. Build solid relationships with your NCOs. Learn the ropes.
4. You will not be leading a Team any time soon. GUARANTEED. Unless you somehow land in a unit hard up for people. To place a 2LT as a CA team leader is career suicide for a CO. Nothing against you; you're just not seasoned enough yet.
5. All the above steps take time. If you aced it in school, memorized all the TMs, and were an all around scholastic stud, NONE of that is going to help you if you cannot get past the first KLE with that haj that wants to slit your throat but wants to see what he can get from you in return.
That my friend, is where you will know what you really know.

Best of luck.