Cpl. Thomas Doles reflects on his CIOR MILCOMP experience
Cpl. Thomas Doles, U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), reflects on his experience during the Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers Military Competition (CIOR MILCOMP). This competition is an annual reserve military competition with NATO member states and other participating nations with 34 countries in total, representing 1.3 million reservists. The MILCOMP, which has been held since 1957, is a military pentathlon testing service members in pistol and rifle marksmanship, land and water obstacles and orienteering.
Behind the Curtains
Behind the curtains. We are Soldiers, trained by Soldiers. Every single Soldier is taught by another who went before them. It is an honor for us to serve. It is also an honor to mentor those who serve. The world and warfare has evolved. Information is weaponized. Maneuvering the battlefield becomes more complicated everyday and the demands for civil-military operators and information capabilities increase. To prepare for the challenge, we rely on previous real-world experience as well as challenging simulated environments, such as the National Training Center. Designed to portray near-peer threats that include conventional forces, insurgents, criminal activity, humanitarian crisis and civilians on the battlefield. Designed for Soldiers to win, to fail, to learn, to grow, and to focus. Designed to build cohesive teams and develop talented leaders. Designed to strengthen U.S. forces. U.S. Army trainers responsible for overseeing information related capabilities including Information Operations, Civil Affairs, Psychological Operations and other capabilities are consolidated under the “Ghost Team” at NTC. If you are interested in becoming an Observer, Coach / Trainer for Ghost Team email ntc.ghostteam@gmail.com
USACAPOC(A) Change of Command
Maj. Gen, Jeffrey C. Coggin relinquished USACAPOC(A) command to Major General Isaac Johnson Jr. while Command Sgt. Maj. Peter Trotter transferred responsibility to Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel Benedict, Saturday, August 13, 2022. Maj. Gen. Michael D. Roache, the Chief of Staff, United States Army Reserve, officiated the Change of Command ceremony and Maj. Gen. Darrell Guthrie officiated the retirement ceremony for Coggin. The Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command is manned, trained, and equipped to provide operational forces with critical capabilities found nowhere else in the Army or joint force. Organized with four Subordinate Civil Affairs Commands, two Psychological Operations Groups and a Theater Information Operations Group and a Headquarters Company, each stood with their Unit Colors on the parade field.
Information Operations Explained
Soldiers from the 301st Information Operations (IO) Battalion validated their skills and their ability to work as a cohesive team during their July Training Readiness Exercise (TRX). The TRX is the organization’s last internal validation before IO Soldiers begin their mobilization process to ultimately impact the information battlespace across various theaters of operation. Capt. Iva Brown explains what is expected from Information Operations planners and who is likely to succeed in this cognitively challenging career choice.
Operation Viking 2022
The 360th Civil Affairs Brigade is conducting Operation Viking Exercise, the only joint task force exercise in the Continental United States at Joint Base Cape Cod, July 17-31, 2022. Operation Viking is a high-intensity exercise including range training, mission-essential civil affairs training, and very ambitious airborne operations.
U.S Army Airborne Operations
The U.S. Army Reserve’s U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) and 824th Quartermaster Company partnered with Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division to conduct a non-tactical airborne operation with allied jump masters in order to maintain proficiency and earn foreign jump wings, Fort. Bragg North Carolina, Dec. 13-15, 2021. (U.S. Army video by Cpl. Genesis Miranda)
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Civil affairs, psychological operations expand role in special operations training
Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Soldiers joined Special Forces Soldiers at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, for a training event entitled Southern Strike 2024. The culminating event for the nearly month-long training operation was the defense and evacuation of an U.S. embassy. Extensive battlefield simulation effects such as pyrotechnics, smoke, simunitions and dozens of civilian role players enhanced the realism of the training. Southern Strike was hosted by the Mississippi National Guard. It was designed to improve combat readiness, build relationships, strengthen interoperability, and pursue greater global stability. This year, 2024, marks the 13th year the Mississippi National Guard has hosted Southern Strike.
May 16, 2024 - Special operations Soldiers from the U.S. and partnered countries spent the month of April training in full spectrum irregular warfare operations in and around Camp Shelby, Mississippi. From April 7 to April 26, approximately...
U.S. Army Reserve Civil Affairs team runs marathon together in Prague
U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 415th Civil Affairs Battalion pose together with their medals in Poznan, Poland, May 5, 2024. The team ran the race together as a team-building event, increasing the physical fitness, competitiveness and esprit de corps within the unit. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jameson Harris)
May 9, 2024 - Through the classical streets in the Czech Republic on May 5, 2024, thousands of runners follow the cobblestone paths highlighting the history, architecture, and culture of Prague. The Prague International Marathon attracts...
Legendary 353rd CACOM commander honored
The granddaughter and great grandson of a former commander of the 353rd Civil Affairs Command, Col. Frank Toscani, accepted an award on their relative's behalf at the JFK Special Warfare Center and School on April 26, 2024. Toscani's innovative civil-military work laid the foundation for today's multi-faceted Army Civil-Affairs professional.
May 8, 2024 - A former commander of the U.S. Army’s 353rd Civil Affairs Command was honored by the special operations community at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, last week. Col. Frank Toscani was inducted into the U.S. Army’s Civil Affairs...
Signal Support Soldier carves path to success
Staff Sgt. Arma Norried, a signal support systems specialist assigned to the 415th Civil Affairs Battalion, poses in front of the V Corps logo in Poznan, Poland, March 19, 2024. Norried supports the communication systems and signal networks between the civil affairs teams deployed to Poland. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jameson Harris)
March 29, 2024 - Staff Sgt. Erma Norried found new avenues and opportunities that were only made available after enlisting in the Army. One such path brought her to Poznan, Poland, where she currently supports the 415th Civil Affairs...
Shaping civil considerations through simulation: 353rd CACOM participates in Austere Challenge 2024
Veebel Kaur Jars, a training non-commissioned officer with the 61st Combat Support Services, 1st Infantry Brigade of the Estonian Defense Forces (left), and Staff Sgt. Joseph Nuttall, a civil affairs sergeant with the 353rd Civil Affairs Command (right) discuss similarities between civil affairs (CA) and civil-military cooperation (CIMIC) during exercise Austere Challenge 24 here on March 13, 2024. Exercise Austere Challenge 24, a command post exercise (CPX) focused on training combatant command coordination, U.S. interagency, and integration amongst the U.S., NATO, Allies, and partners in planning across multiple domains.
March 18, 2024 - Battlefields come in many different forms. Whether it's within a mountainous countryside or on a 15-inch computer screen, decisions will be made, setting off a chain of events. This sequence of events can either garner...
Learning from past, striving for CHANGE
U.S. Army Civilian Shylon Green was the Fort Hunter Liggett Black History Month speaker and is shown speaking with a participant after event, February 22, 2024. He has been working at FHL since 2011 and is the Antiterrorism Officer. He enjoys the close-knit environment at FHL and says, “It’s a family here. We really do care for each other.” (Amy Phillips)
March 8, 2024 - Shylon Green, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, shares his journey from being the only black kid in the neighborhood and facing racism, struggling to find himself as a young adult, joining the military, and a very dark...
SETAF-AF Civil Affairs serves Sunson: strengthening health, harnessing hope
Pictured left to right, U.S. Army Spc. Nathaniel McKinnon, civil affairs specialist, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Julian Holman, civil affairs team sergeant and U.S. Army Maj. Jennifer Stachura, civil affairs team lead, pose for a photo with Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) and Ghanaian civilian medical providers prior to a medical civil action program (MEDCAP) at Sakpegu Primary School in Sunson, Ghana, Feb. 9, 2024. The U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) Civil Affairs team in Ghana partnered with the GAF to provide de-wormer and personal hygiene products to Sunson community members as part of the MEDCAP. SETAF-AF Civil Affairs teams specialize in fostering cooperation and building relationships between military forces and civilian populations in Africa. Through a variety of programs, including MEDCAPs, these teams deliver essential services, conduct humanitarian assistance, and implement development projects aimed at improving living conditions and promoting stability in the region. Their efforts underscore the U.S. commitment to supporting African communities, enhancing mutual understanding, and contributing to long-term peace and security across the continent.
March 8, 2024 - The U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) Civil Affairs Team, alongside the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) and supported by Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid (OHDACA) funds, recently spearheaded a...
353rd Civil Affairs Command leaders honor fallen PsyOp Soldier
Brig. Gen. Dean Thompson, commanding general of the 353rd Civil Affairs Command and Command Sgt. Maj. Clifford Lo visited the 326th Strategic Dissemination Company last week to meet the Soldiers, complete a ruck march and pay respects to a fallen Soldier.
Feb. 9, 2024 - The commanding general and command sergeant major of the 353rd Civil Affairs Command visited the 326th Strategic Dissemination Company last week to meet the Soldiers, complete a ruck march and pay respects to a fallen...
U.S. Army bolsters Polish army cadet development in Torun
U.S. Army Maj. James Porch, civil liaison team leader for Poland and soldier assigned to U.S. Army Reserve unit 308th Civil Affairs Brigade, cuts a ribbon on a plaque at a secondary school in Torun on Jan. 31, 2024. U.S. Army soldiers and Polish military cadets participated in a dedication ceremony honoring U.S. Army war hero Staff Sgt. Michael H. Olllis. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. Karen Sampson)
Feb. 2, 2024 - U.S. Army Soldiers supporting U.S. Army Garrison – Poland and V Corps joined Polish army cadets in leadership development at their secondary school, Jan. 31, 2024.During the visit, they held a ceremony dedicating a plaque to...
Promotion celebrates excellence in uniform, school administration
Brig. Gen. Dean Thompson speaks to journalists at Eagles Landing Middle School in McDonough, Georgia on January 25, 2024. He was there to promote the school’s principal, Malik Douglas, to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve. “By virtue of being the principal of a large middle school and now being promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, Malik Douglas has demonstrated that gifted citizen soldiers can enjoy great success in both their military and their civilian careers by serving in U.S. Army Reserve units, such as the 353rd Civil Affairs Command,” said Thompson, commander of the 353rd Civil Affairs Command. “The U.S. Army’s Civil Affairs soldiers, like Lt. Col. Douglas, are the ones to whom the U.S. government entrusts its most complex civil-military missions that require empowering local populations and community-building, which is a similar function to what Dr. Douglas does here at Eagle’s Landing Middle School.” U.S. Army photo by Lt. Col. Brett Walker, Public Affairs Officer for the 353d CACOM
Jan. 31, 2024 - School principal, doctor in education, family man, and now lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army – Malik Douglas can do it all. Yesterday, January 25, 2024, Douglas pinned on his new rank in front of his wife, school...
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Maj. Gen. Isaac Johnson, Jr.
Commanding General, U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (ABN)
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Brig. Gen. James P. Sanders
Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne)
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Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel F. Benedict
Command Sergeant Major, U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (ABN)
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