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Timely focus
on CIMIC
By
Lt Stuart Wood
With the Coalition operation in Iraq now firmly in the post-conflict
phase, the role of Civil Affairs (CA) and Civil-Military Cooperation
(CIMIC) specialists within the coalition forces has been brought
into sharp focus.
The new operational emphasis on issues of governance, infrastructure
rebuilding and the provision of humanitarian relief could not have
been more timely or relevant for 35 ADF personnel attending the
first CIMIC Basic Course, conducted recently over 14 days across
south-east Queensland.
The course, conducted out of Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera, and the
Land Warfare Centre, Canungra, was delivered using developing ADF
CIMIC and current US CA doctrine and drew heavily on operational
experience from both Australian and US instructional staff.
Assistant Commander 1st Div Brig Ian Flawith, explained that the
ADF’s CIMIC capability was being developed inline with a CA
directive.
“The directive calls for the development of this capability
initially within 1 Div and with a strong, long-term emphasis on
Reservists and the specialist civilian skills they bring to their
military service, skills that would be impossible for the ADF to
develop and maintain,” he said.
“As a result of the course, we now have a CIMIC Staff planning
capability within the DJFHQ and the formations of 1st Division.
“Ultimately, 1 Div will be able to provide deployable CIMIC
support to a Joint Task Force. This will greatly enhance the ADF’s
ability to respond to warfighting contingencies and complex emergencies,
including humanitarian aid and disaster relief.”
Australian/US interoperability was taken a step closer through the
integration into the course of a CA team from B Coy, 96th Civil
Affairs Battalion (Airborne), based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
The US team brought with them extensive CA experience in operations
as diverse as Panama, Haiti, Afghanistan and the Philippines.
OC B Coy Maj Rene Porras, told the course that each operation brought
very different cultural sensitivities, security situations, humanitarian
needs and desired outcomes.
“As CIMIC exponents, you’ll become very adaptable,”
he said
ADF personnel with CIMIC experience in East Timor, Rwanda, Cambodia,
Somalia, Bougainville and PNG formed the nucleus of the Australian
instructional staff.
The collective wisdom gathered from these and other ADF operations
and through continued close cooperation with the US Army CA organisation
is now being incorporated into formal ADF CIMIC doctrine.
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