Role of civil affairs.

• Author: Holshek, Christopher J.
• Position: LETTERS - Letter to the Editor

With reference to your cover story of the February 2005 edition, it is remarkable that there is no mention of civil affairs or psychological operations--two of the three major components of Army special operations forces, representing nearly 40 percent of total Army SOF.

Civil affairs troops help minimize civilian interference to hasten an end to hostilities and reduce civilian casualties and damage. They are the military's prime instrument for coordinating with local, U.S. and international civilian agencies. As emphasis shifts from relief to reconstruction, CA brokers the growth of governance to turn responsibilities over to civilian relief and reconstruction agencies and, ultimately, local public administrators, enabling fulfillment of the military's "exit strategy" and helping to preserve U.S. forces for missions elsewhere. PSYOP also helps leverage this process in "winning hearts and minds".

Civil affairs forces are the most expedient...