2022 Civil Affairs Symposium

Whether for large-scale combat operations, irregular warfare, or great power competition, advantage goes those with a superior learning network from civil-military networks that strengthen alliances and attract new partners. The war in Ukraine is affirming the criticality of understanding and integrating civil considerations and contextual understanding to defeat adversaries more quickly and decisively, consolidate and shape a more favorable post-conflict environment, and prevent or deter conflict. The Army and joint force must see capabilities like CA as maneuver forces in the psycho-cultural spaces of war and integrated deterrance - gaining, maintaining, and denying political and informational positional advantages. As premier forces to win without fighting, they must be organized, managed, and resourced with the same seriousness as combat forces. With an active sense of readiness from their constant forward presence, CA and

its NATO CIMIC allies and interorganizational partners can provide civil-military situational understanding, strategic early warning, and superior politico-military…