I just enlisted as a Civil Affairs Specialist today as a reservist, what can I expect from this job?

2020-09-10T22:14:27-04:00

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 11 at 2020 12:48 AM

2020-09-11T00:48:18-04:00

As a junior enlisted Soldier you may have several functions. You may be used as a data miner going through published information on a country of interest and helping your Civil Affairs Team leadership develop a profile of the country's civilian landscape. During Key Leader Engagements, you will likely be taking notes of the engagement and helping your Team leader establish a relationship with the key leader (tribal leader, elder, law enforcement official, mayor, etc.)

You will likely be a vehicle driver for your CAT (Civil Affairs Team), and possibly pull security while the team leader and team sergeant engage with the local leaders.

If you happen to land in a higher unit, like brigade level, you may find yourself part of the CMOC (Civilian-Miitary Operation Center). In this, you will assist in sorting through all the events that occur during combat operations and providing the information the leaders need to determine what events involving local civilians have an impact on military operations. If there is a displaced civilian collection point or camp set up, then you will be involved in processing the people that move through the camp.

1SG Private RallyPoint Member would be a good resource for this question

Response by CPT Gurinder (Gene) Rana made Sep 11 at 2020 5:06 AM

2020-09-11T05:06:01-04:00

The universe, if you make it your passion or the trenches, when you only see Hawaii as paradise. LoL

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 11 at 2020 9:36 AM

2020-09-11T09:36:40-04:00

SPC Private RallyPoint Member I have been doing this for 18 years, and one thing I can tell you is that every time you go on mission, it will be different.
It will be different from the last time (and what you were trained) because -
1. The culture of that particular spot is different
2. The motives of the people in charge (them and you) will be different
3. The resources you have to work with are changeable
4. Even if you go to the same place, the situation will have changed (ie Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia...)
5. The political climate will be different (our and theirs)
6. The people ostensibly on the same team as you change and so do their mindsets
7. The guidance from military and State Dept channels will change

The single biggest piece of advice I can give you is to learn from training and your NCOs tools and techniques to do your job, but the actual art of targeting, attacking a problem, affecting desired results, and exploiting opportunities is an art that you have to learn for yourself with experience. What works for me surely won't for you, because our talents and personalities are different.

If you have specific questions, shoot. I try and do my best to answer, and you'll be hard-pressed to stump me.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 11 at 2020 6:45 PM

2020-09-11T18:45:20-04:00

If you work with natives then understand them. What is their ideology. How does their ideology govern their actions. What are they passionate about? Who are their leaders? What do they want. What are they lacking. What are their martial capabilities. What are their weaknesses. What are the strengths. What is their history. Understand their culture.

However, this is not entry level stuff.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Sep 11 at 2020 7:38 PM

2020-09-11T19:38:52-04:00

You will a lot of chances for deployments because 90% of your field is in the Reserves.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 1 at 2020 7:40 PM

2020-11-01T19:40:38-05:00

The unexpected.