Civil Information Evaluation (CIE) is the process by which Civil Affairs (CA) forces assess, validate, and interpret civil data collected through engagements, reconnaissance, and open sources. It transforms raw information into usable insight—helping commanders make informed decisions about the civil component of the operational environment (OE).
While Civil Reconnaissance and Engagement generate the information, CIE gives it meaning. It’s about answering questions like: What does this data tell us? How credible is it? How does it impact operations?
For incoming 38G officers, CIE is an area where your subject matter expertise becomes a critical filter. Your ability to analyze civil-sector data (economic trends, health indicators, governance structures, etc.) makes you a key contributor to the team’s ability to separate signal from noise.
🎯 Key Functions of Civil Information Evaluation
(Derived from FM 3-57, Paragraphs 1-30 to 1-31)
| Function | Description |
|---|---|
| Data Verification | Assesses the accuracy, credibility, and relevance of civil information collected from various sources. |
| Sector-Specific Analysis | Evaluates civil data through the lens of key functional areas—such as infrastructure, public health, economics, or governance. |
| Input for Planning and Targeting | Refines civil information into actionable intelligence that supports the commander’s planning process and mission execution. |
| Supports Civil Information Management (CIM) | Contributes to the broader CIM process by feeding evaluated data into shared databases or reporting systems like ASCOPE and PMESII-PT overlays. |
| Assesses Operational Impact | Helps determine the implications of civil conditions on military operations and identifies trends over time. |
🧠 How 38Gs Support Civil Information Evaluation
As a Functional Specialist, your role in CIE is to interpret civil data with technical rigor and provide meaning that generalists may miss. Your sector knowledge allows you to identify emerging risks, validate sources, and offer perspective on what’s normal vs. abnormal within your domain.
Here’s how different 38G skill identifiers support CIE:
| Example SI (Skill Identifier) | Your Role in CIE |
|---|---|
| P9 – Economic Development | Analyze price fluctuations, black-market activity, employment trends, or disrupted supply chains. |
| P4 – Public Health | Evaluate patterns in clinic access, disease outbreaks, WASH issues, and humanitarian medical interventions. |
| P3 – Governance | Interpret changes in public trust, governance performance, election outcomes, or local dispute resolution trends. |
| P6 – Education | Review enrollment data, school access disparities, or disruptions to academic programming. |
| P1 – Infrastructure | Assess reports on infrastructure damage, utility reliability, or maintenance patterns and service gaps. |
You may contribute directly to reports, briefings, or decision support products—and your assessments often shape which civil efforts are prioritized or adjusted.
CIE is how Civil Affairs turns information into impact. It connects the dots between what’s observed and what needs to be done, allowing commanders to respond effectively to civil realities.
For CA units, evaluated civil information:
- Guides resource allocation and mission planning
- Identifies opportunities for stabilization or engagement
- Flags risks that might undermine operational objectives
As a 38G, your involvement in CIE ensures that the data we act on is not just descriptive—it’s analytical, sector-specific, and strategically valuable.
In short, CIE is where your civilian brain meets the military decision cycle.