How "in demand" is a Civil Affairs officer (38A), and what is the likelihood of getting this MOS?

2018-06-03T23:11:12-04:00

I've been looking further into the Army as a career option post-graduation from my local community college, and a friend who grew up in a military family suggested I look into the Green to Gold program. After looking more into that, I learned about the position of Civil Affairs Officer, which interests me greatly from the job descriptions I've read. My first question is, how "in demand" is this position, and what is the likelihood of making this MOS? And secondly, I've primarily looked at enlisting as a Paralegal Specialist (27D); would this be good experience for the type of work I would be doing should I reach 38A?

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Jun 4 at 2018 12:27 AM

2018-06-04T00:27:55-04:00

Great question. Hopefully some junior 38A's are able to chime in to help you. I'd also suggest browsing the existing posts on the 38A group page. There's already some good information out there.
https://www.rallypoint.com/specialties/38a-civil-affairs-officer

Civil Affairs Officer (38A): Learn and connect on RallyPoint

Connect with 38As on RallyPoint. Share you knowledge and get the career advice you need from others with your experience.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jun 4 at 2018 6:18 AM

2018-06-04T06:18:28-04:00

Lemme give a few suggestions, OK? Try to elaborate more, do a very detailed, thorough bio sketch, hobbies, reading interests, sports incl martial arts if any...next, what specific major was your assocs? What GPA? sTEM related? Non STEM? Clinical interests, of any, you didn't mention any, I just always ask...next, what major for your bachelor's, ormramge of possible majors, OK?

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jun 4 at 2018 6:19 AM

2018-06-04T06:19:25-04:00

http://www.ocsfoundation.org

This tablet conks a lot, I'll send short answers, read this, just as background, if you'd like it, sign up for the forum, I think you'll perceive why I suggest it, OK?

OCS Foundation

SERVICES FOR: Candidates Alumni Officer Families

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jun 4 at 2018 6:21 AM

2018-06-04T06:21:22-04:00

You can't just look at one SVC, I was Army ROTac, I went USAF OTD instead, I looked at all sevcs, all, not just one, thought I'd gotten it all right, and got it all completely wrong, for the simple reason of not taking adequate time to do adequate research, know all possible options, know the right questions to ask, or whom to ask them of, OK? I'm not saying to not go, I'm merely trying to teach you what I learned the hard way beforehand, OK?

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jun 4 at 2018 6:24 AM

2018-06-04T06:24:09-04:00

Next, it:s not anoitnwjat you want, it:s about who wants you...you !mention civil affairs, you !mention paralegal...wit what object in mind? Which svc and which branch of a given svc? Would you want law ultimately? Would you want State Dept as a military attaché? Have you done any paralegal training thus far? Are you a certified paralegal now? Why are you interested in law? What type of law, explicitly, so far as you can explain?

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jun 4 at 2018 6:25 AM

2018-06-04T06:25:26-04:00

Get a set of paperbacks called the Nutshell series, they're not what are termed legal hornbooks, those are the true formal law texts, mainly pulibhed by West Publishing, the Nutshell series, however, are fairly cheap, and will give you a taste....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jun 4 at 2018 6:26 AM

2018-06-04T06:26:28-04:00

Look esp at admin law, as I've generally found that's where most normal humans deal with law, and an area woefully underemphasized, essential in civil affairs, I'd expect....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jun 4 at 2018 6:27 AM

2018-06-04T06:27:27-04:00

Next, look at USMC Platoon Leaders Course (PLC), an alternate to ROTCs, in all the svcs, not just NROTC for Navy and USMC....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jun 4 at 2018 6:28 AM

2018-06-04T06:28:03-04:00

Look at the USCH scholarships, esp as related to Admiralty law, law enforcement, and he use of attorneys by the USCG....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jun 4 at 2018 6:31 AM

2018-06-04T06:31:00-04:00

I'm not an attorney, I never was, however, I've read a fair level of law out of curiosity, some constitutional, some admin law, a good deal of military UCMJ and Manual of Court Martial (MCM) law, purely our of curiosity, I'd toyed with law, however, I don't have the personality, of also looked at patent, trademark, and intellectual property law, as well as the USPTO exam to allow a science grad bachelor's level or with adequate credits to become a patent examiner, I didn't do the exa!, a friend tried it, it was apparently quite rough....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jun 4 at 2018 6:34 AM

2018-06-04T06:34:09-04:00

Getting past a nar exam is a major pain, different states have different rules about credit for the national multiple choice part, as opposed to the essay part, a friend I'd been in grad school with for clinical before my total perm disability switched to law, he does personal injury, he's out of the state jes licensed in, and can only work as a legal asst in the state jes in for now...he was able to keep his multiple choice part in another state, then pass the essay part, that was how he eventually got jos law license in that other state, he's quite bright, he had to take nar exa!s in the state he's in, and where he went to law school multiple times to pass, honest...

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jun 4 at 2018 6:37 AM

2018-06-04T06:37:26-04:00

Also, his isn't a panacea, however, look up the Wikipedia page on reading the law, the pass rates gormnar exams aren't good, I've heard on Jere from someone who'd mentioned it that Wash state is apparently the nest, it can be done to save money on a full law school, NY where my wife and I are allows one year of law school in an ABA approved program, the rest can be done reading law in an approved practice, the NYS court admin requirements to get Esq without a JD are very strict, so as I'd said it's not a panacea by any means, I merely mention it to !make you aware of it....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jun 4 at 2018 6:45 AM

2018-06-04T06:45:37-04:00

Next, you have a few major misconceptions...everyone always says they want the commission, however, keeping it can he a whole separate ball of wax, I assure you,....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jun 4 at 2018 6:49 AM

2018-06-04T06:49:59-04:00

I wasn't prior enlisted, it would have helped !e adjust considerably, that !such is true, many I knew at USAF OTS were, from all svcs, they generally adjusted to commissioned with far greater ease, that much is very true, they were acclimated, and knew what to expect...

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jun 4 at 2018 6:51 AM

2018-06-04T06:51:58-04:00

However, all warrant and commissioned, regardless of svc or branch, are expected to get minimum a masters from day one, even part time...also, there's profsnl mil educ (PME) reqd of all warrant and comsnd in all svcs, not just in their own SVC, to broaden them...

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jun 4 at 2018 6:54 AM

2018-06-04T06:54:36-04:00

See the misconception is this...you're not there to be paralegal or civil affairs, you're there to be active duty, your MOS or AFSC or rate is what you do when you're not training to be purely military, it see!s like your principal task...it osmt...your principal task is the military, not just what they have you do in it day to day, that's what many never realize....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jun 4 at 2018 6:56 AM

2018-06-04T06:56:43-04:00

Read about the svc grad schools USAF AFIT and Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), all warrant and commissioned, and senior enlisted at least for AFIT can apply, though you'd likely have to wait a couple of tours to have any realistic chance...look also at Rhodes Scholar for military who've gotten it...

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jun 4 at 2018 6:59 AM

2018-06-04T06:59:14-04:00

Next, look at the state !maritime colleges, VMI, the Citadel, the !military junior colleges, most if not all have Wikipedia pages, as well...my point is, of you want civil affairs, you're gonna likely be either JAG ultimately, or State Dept military attache, so trust !e, of you really wamma get it, you can try for Green to Gold, I'm not saying no, I'm !erely pointing out alternatives, OK?

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jun 4 at 2018 7:00 AM

2018-06-04T07:00:37-04:00

So, as of said, elaborate, dp a really detailed, thorough bio sketch, the more you send in, the more I or others here can suggest, OK? If you want to ask anything, I'm Jere, hope that all helped....

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2018 9:11 AM

2018-06-04T09:11:28-04:00

There will be a lot of variance in your future that will determine whether you become a 38A.
1. If you complete the proper green and gold packet and meet the requirements to get in you will/will not be selected from a board to complete Green to Gold.
2. Once this occurs you will attend school and receive an order of merit ranking from several sources and choose which basic branch you would like (CA is not a basic branch and will not be able to be selected as a cadet).
3. After you have commissioned and completed your time as a lieutenant and you receive solid evaluations you can apply and will/will not be accepted to go to CAAS (Civil Affairs Assessment and Selection).
4. At CAAS you will/will not be selected and then will PCS to FT Bragg to complete the CA qualification course (CAQC).
5. CAQC is a year and a half and is full of schools (CCC, Language, Regionals, Intro, MOS, and a lot of this will change once you go through).
5. After the CAQC you will branch qualify as a Civil Affairs Officer.

If you have any additional questions feel free to reach out to me and I can explain that more in depth if you would like.

Respectfully,

Pete

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Jun 4 at 2018 3:16 PM

2018-06-04T15:16:46-04:00

My God son. 1. Most all CA units are in the reserve- I think there is only 1 AD Bn, in Bragg. Our reserve unit in I town 489th CA Bn- has been deployed 6 times and constantly has groups of troops deployed around the world.

Response by BG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2018 7:34 PM

2018-06-04T19:34:29-04:00

Mike - Looks like you are confusing a few things here which is understandable since you have no background in the military. You are talking about being a Civil Affairs Officer (38A) but also a Paralegal (27D) which is an enlisted position. If you are really interested in Civil Affairs, you can enlist as a Civil Affairs Specialist (38B). After becoming a 38B, you can then apply to OCS to become an officer (this is what I did). After ten hard weeks at Ft. Benning you will be commissioned an officer, most likely in a Combat Arms Branch (think Infantry, Engineers, Field Artillery, etc.). Serve in that branch to get the essentials on leadership such as leading a platoon and then you can apply for one of the special branches (CA, PSYOP, and SF) when you come up for promotion to Captain. You cannot go into a special branch immediately as they want you to get the leadership ability that only comes from one of the regular branches.