Civil Affairs (CA) forces serve as the Army’s primary force for engaging the civil component of the operational environment. Their missions are critical to supporting the commander’s ability to understand, engage, and influence civil populations and institutions. According to FM 3-57, Civil Affairs missions include:
Civil Affairs 7 Core Missions
Reference: FM 3-57, Civil Affairs Operations (April 2021), Chapter 3
| Mission | Description |
|---|---|
| Civil Reconnaissance (CR) | Targeted collection of civil information focusing on areas, structures, capabilities, organizations, people, and events (ASCOPE) relevant to the mission. |
| Civil Engagement (CE) | Deliberate interaction with key civil individuals and organizations to build relationships, promote understanding, and support mission objectives. |
| Civil Network Development (CND) | Identification and cultivation of relationships with key civil actors and organizations to enhance cooperation and influence within the operational area. |
| Civil Information Evaluation (CIE) | Analysis and processing of civil data to produce usable intelligence for commanders; supports planning and decision-making. |
| Civil-Military Operations Center (CMOC) | Centralized hub for coordinating civil-military interaction; enables integration of civil considerations into military operations. |
| Support to Civil Administration (SCA) | Assistance to reestablish or strengthen governance and essential services where civil authority is degraded, absent, or failing. |
| Transitional Military Authority (TMA) | Temporary governance or oversight provided by military forces when civil institutions cannot perform essential functions. |
📚 Reference Table
| Title | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| FM 3-57: Civil Affairs Operations | Core field manual for Civil Affairs doctrine; outlines roles and missions. | View PDF |
| ATP 3-57.20: Civil-Military Operations Center (CMOC) | Describes CMOC structure, tasks, and integration with partners. | View PDF |
| JP 3-57: Civil-Military Operations | Joint publication covering Civil-Military Operations across services. | View PDF |