Civil Affairs Officer

Answer 1

A military commander is assisted greatly by the Civil Affairs Officer. This military member works with the civilian authorities and civilian citizens in an area of military operation. The Civil Affairs Officer specializes in handling civil affairs. This extensive knowledge of how to work with civilian populations and authorities is critical to the success of the mission. This military professional acts as a liaison between civilian inhabitants of a disaster area or war zone and the military of the foreign nation.

Moreover, Civil Affairs Officers are usually professionals in some civilian field. For example, doctors, lawyers, police, and engineers are some of the professionals that are commissioned to be a Civil Affairs Officer. In foreign countries, these officers make an assessment of infrastructure needs of a country. For instance, water plants, schools, roads, and clinics are some of the projects that are constructed in a foreign country.

Furthermore, there is a principle in international law and other laws that say that civilians can not be neglected in battle zones. Civil Affairs originated from military governments that had to be developed during times of war. Most of the people commissioned for this position come from the Reserve Services. A newly enlisted Civil Affairs Officer will go through 13 weeks of fast paced training. After an officer completes BOLC I and II, the officer is eligible to apply for a Civil Affairs Officer position in the military.

Someone that is interested in becoming a Civil Affairs Officer can start the process by joining the reserves. A professional can still work and be a part of this armed forces unit. Oftentimes, someone can be commissioned from the reserves to become a Civil Affairs Officer. These professionals are critical to the mission of the military. One of the most important parts of war is controlling the civilian population. The military operation can be greatly hindered by an out of control civilian population. Those that wish to pursue this profession should have strong interpersonal skills. This individual has to be patient and friendly to gain cooperation between officers and civilians. The government is constantly seeking good soldiers for the military, and a military career is a relatively stable profession.