Civil Affairs Issue Papers Volume 1, 2014-2015 Civil Affairs Issue Papers | Page 49

used more readily by peacebuilders and development experts using a “human security” approach.) Threading these themes together, Brig. Gen. Irizarry discussed the need to shift thinking from Civil Affairs Operations (CAO) to Civil Military Operations (CMO) with CA as the lead proponent. He spoke of the need to place new emphasis on the Civil Military Operations Center concept. Focusing on force structure, he emphasized the need for CA to rethink the troop to task and consider the function, size, scale and scope of the mission, rather than a standard consideration that a brigade combat team is assigned a CA company. In some cases, such as the West African Response Force, this model may not fit, and a more tailored package of CA is needed. Maj. Gen. Ammerman noted that even as the demand for Civil Affairs is strong, the budgets are shrinking – training funds for Reserve CA for the current fiscal year are half of the previous year. Meanwhile, civilian surge efforts are also retrenching. The Department of State has disbanded its Civilian Response Corps. Many of the ad hoc structures such as PRTs and the HTS did not make their way into the more permanent force structure or doctrine. Lt. Col. Simon said the new generation of Civil Affairs could leverage technology to their advantage if given the right tools at the right time for the right mission. He claimed without hesitation that those graduating from the MOS-producing school have what they need to make a difference. The challenge remains how to best enlighten those at the operational and strategic level leading the captains and corporals, not those engaged at the tactical level. 30