Civil Affairs - Vanguard for the Emerging Army Reserve Profession
Abstract
The deployment of tens of thousands of Reserve Soldiers for Operations ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF) and IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF) has changed the Department of Defense's (DoD) perspective toward the Reserve Component. The DoD concluded that it must manage its Reserve Components as an operational force. One heavily deployed segment within the Reserve Components in support of the Global War on Terror is U.S. Army Civil Affairs (CA). As United States forces in Iraq and Afghanistan execute a counterinsurgency war, Civil Affairs are in the forefront of this effort. Moreover, with 95% of the Civil Affairs units residing in the Army Reserve, the contribution of Reserve personnel is especially significant. Today, the United States Army Reserve (USAR) Civil Affairs Corps are indisputable members of the military profession. However, USAR Civil Affairs faces challenges, both ongoing and emerging, that it must confront in order to maintain unequivocal membership in this profession. This project examines USAR Civil Affairs forces against the four traditional concepts that define professionalism: jurisdiction, legitimacy, expertise, and career. Areas of progress are identified and recommendations are provided to overcome challenges and potential setbacks for Army Reserve Civil Affairs.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA498761
Entities
People
- George P. Mcdonnell
Organizations
- United States Army War College