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CIMIC
nurse Capt Angela Devlin makes friends with local children
during a health assessment on Guadalcanal. Photo by Maj
Mark Griffiths, CIMIC TST.
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CIMIC
team deployed
By
Lt Stuart Wood
Two years of hard work by a small and dedicated team within DJFHQ
has paid off with the deployment of seven members of the Civil-Military
Cooperation (CIMIC) staff to the Solomon Islands in support of
Op Anode.
The
six reserves and one ARA member were all drawn from 1 Div’s
newly-minted CIMIC Tactical Support Team (TST).
At
the recent TST stand-up parade Assistant Commander DJFHQ Brig
Ian Flawith, Project Manager for the development of the CIMIC
capability, thanked Commander DJFHQ Maj-Gen Mark Evans, for his
strong support throughout the development phase and for the allocation
of the resources necessary to deliver this high-readiness reserve
capability.
“The
TST delivers a staff element capable of undertaking operational
CIMIC planning and battle tracking, an LO team to work with government
and non-government agencies and a Field Assessment Team able to
provide a broad range of specialist skills in support of a designated
JTF Commander’s operational plan,” he said.
The
TST stand-up and the deployment of seven of its members are the
latest in a series of significant CIMIC capability achievements.
These have included the publication of developing Australian Army
CIMIC doctrine, the establishment of a J9 (CIMIC) branch within
the DJFHQ, the provision of CIMIC training to the Royal Fijian
Military Forces and the delivery of the first CIMIC Basic course
in April 2003, which trained 35 ARA and reserve personnel using
Australian CIMIC doctrine.
“Additionally,
we have developed strong professional relationships with the civil
affairs organisations of the US and UK armies and relevant Australian
Government and non-government organisations and aid agencies.”
Maj-Gen
Evans said the stand-up of the 18-member CIMIC TST represented
the achievement of a CA directive to develop specialist CIMIC
skills utilising the reserve component.
“The
commitment of seven members of the TST to Op Anode also clearly
demonstrates the potential and ability of the reserve to provide
a readily-deployable capability.”
ADF
doctrine now published
By
Lt Stuart Wood
ADF Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) capability has taken another
step forward with the publication of Australian-owned and operated
CIMIC doctrine.
The
publication has been issued as developing doctrine, Australian
Army Land Warfare Doctrine, LWD 5-2, Civil-Military Cooperation
and widely distributed in hard copy throughout the ADF.
Written
by a team of specialists assembled by DJFHQ, including representatives
from humanitarian and aid agencies, and produced in close cooperation
with the staff of the Land Warfare Development Centre, the doctrine
provided the framework for the inaugural CIMIC Basic Course delivered
in April this year.
The
doctrine is currently being tested on operations by the DJFHQ
CIMIC Tactical Support Team deployed in support of Op Anode.
Project
Manager for the development of the CIMIC capability Assistant
Commander DJFHQ Brig Ian Flawith said the Civil Affairs organisations
of both the US and UK armies had shown considerable interest in
the Australian doctrine.
“The
doctrine will be the subject of detailed consideration and review
over the next 12 months with the intent of issuing a fully-endorsed
version mid-2004,” he said.
Doctrine
sponsor Commander DJFHQ Maj-Gen Mark Evans welcomes constructive
comments from all stakeholders throughout the review period.
The
doctrine is available in electronic format on the Army Doctrine
Electronic Library (ADEL) at: http://adel.defence.gov.au/
