Civil Affairs Association

02/10/2026

With the support of the ROTC Department of Niagara University, the Civil Affairs Association has published Volume 12 of the Civil Affairs Issue Papers on “Redefining Civil Affairs.” In addition to the final report on last fall’s Civil Affairs Symposium, the volume contains the five papers selected for publication during the 2025 Symposium.

In addition to the final report on last fall’s Civil Affairs Symposium, the volume contains the five papers selected for publication during the 2025 Symposium:
1. “Organizing for Large-Scale Combat Operations: Consolidation of Civil Affairs Forces at the Division” - Shawn M. Blaydes, J. Mike Teeter, and Walter Ellison II
2. “Redefining Civil Affairs: A Call for Modernization” - John E. McElligott, Robert J. Bruce, and Chris G. Antonov
3. “Seizing the Initiative: The Case for Civil Affairs-Enabled Unity of Command in U.S. Stabilization Efforts” - Ryan McCannell
4. “The Civil Affairs Redefined Image Model and Artificial Intelligence” - Marco A. Bongioanni
5. “Should the United States Adopt a CIMIC Model of Civil Affairs for Homeland Defense?” - Robert Boudreau, Michael Aniton, and Peter Schäfer

U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School U.S. Army Special Operations Command 95th Civil Affairs Brigade U.S. Army Civil Affairs & Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), NATO CIMIC Centre of Excellence - CCOE, Association of the United States Army - AUSA National Joint Special Operations University Center for Army Lessons Learned U.S. Army War College Modern War Institute Irregular Warfare Center - IWC Marine Corps Civil-Military Operations School Marine Corps University

With the support of the ROTC Department of Niagara University, the Civil Affairs Association has published Volume 12 of the Civil Affairs Issue Papers on “Redefining Civil Affairs.” In addition to the final report on last fall’s Civil Affairs Symposium, the volume contains the five papers sele...

01/13/2026

John Nagl succinctly sums up the reasons for our losing martial track record:
“The causes for our defeats are varied, but revolve around three recurring factors: an inability to understand the history, culture, and politics of the countries in which we were fighting; a failure to prepare for the peace that follows the fighting that is, as Saint Augustine taught, the only reason to fight a war in the first place; and excessive belief in our ability to accomplish political tasks through the use of arms.”

All three of these involve , which helps win wars more than battles.

“Secure the Victory!”

Civil Affairs Association U.S. Army Civil Affairs & Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) 95th Civil Affairs Brigade

In “The Pernicious Myth That America Doesn’t Win Wars”, Army Special Forces veteran Mike Nelson asks whether you’re going to believe him or your lying eyes about the recent suc

11/12/2025

Congratulations to Dr. Ajit Kaur Maan of Narrative Strategies, LLC. as the new president of the Miltary Writers Guild.
Dr. Maan, who is a renowned thought leader on narrative strategy and warfare, was the 2024 Civil Affairs Roundtable keynote speaker.

Dr. Ajit Maan!

10/07/2025

The CAA’s 78th Annual Conference / Symposium is taking place this year on November 14-15, 2025 in Simi Valley, California (Los Angeles Metropolitan Area)!

DID YOU KNOW?
-The Civil Affairs Association was founded in 1947 “to maintain and enhance the Civil Affairs capabilities required by the Armed Forces.”
-Since the year after our founding our Annual Conference / Symposium has been held, bringing together Civil Affairs from all over the country and the world, active and reserve, Army and other branches, with current leadership to share insight and discuss the future of the branch?

REGISTER for the Symposium to be a part of the continuing history of the Civil Affairs Corps: https://www.civilaffairsassociation.com/post/association-to-host-2025-civil-affairs-symposium-at-the-ronald-reagan-library

There will also be a formal gala at the Reagan Library on the evening of November 15, 2025, hosted by the 358th Civil Affairs Brigade.

GALA TICKETS are separate from the Symposium and can be purchased here: https://www.ticketsignup.io/TicketEvent/ThCivilAffairsBrigadeDiningOut

09/07/2025

At the 412th Theater Engineer Command Senior Leader Seminar in Vicksburg, Mississippi, CSM Ryan Bodmer was awarded the prestigious Winfield Scott Gold Medallion, the highest level given, in recognition of his extraordinary strategic leadership.

Bodmer, who has served in every level of leadership within the Civil Affairs Corps, including Civil Affairs Team Sergeant, First Sergeant, and command sergeant major at the battalion, brigade, and CACOM levels, including three combat tours to Afghanistan and Iraq.

He is now the Command Sergeant Major of the 412th TEC, a two-star command in the U.S. Army Reserve. The award was presented by MG Matt Warne, Commanding General of the 412th Theater Engineer Command, alongside COL J.P. LeCedre, a Brigade Commander and member of the CAA Board.

The Winfield Scott Medallion is the Civil Affairs Corps award that recognizes accomplishments and leadership in members of the Army and Sister Service Civil Affairs community and is presented in the Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels.

08/07/2025

Civil Affairs operators are "hexagon people" and may not even know it! Perhaps a fun paper for someone looking to help with "redefining civil affairs," this year's paper theme.
Get going now - you have a little over a month to go!
Civil Affairs Association U.S. Army Civil Affairs & Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) 95th Civil Affairs Brigade U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School Marine Corps Civil-Military Operations School U.S. Army Futures Command Modern War Institute Army Irregular Warfare Fusion Center Irregular Warfare Initiative Irregular Warfare Center - IWC Joint Special Operations University NATO CIMIC Centre of Excellence - CCOE Association of the United States Army - AUSA National USAID Education U.S. Army War College U.S. Army Security Assistance Command SSI: Strategic Studies Institute & US Army War College Press U.S. Army Command and General Staff College U.S. Army Special Operations Command Small Wars Journal
https://medium.com//hexagon-people-a-theory-of-civic-coherence-51af7c35dd16

The Civil Affairs Association has issued its call for papers for the 12th volume of the Civil Affairs Issue Papers. This year’s call for papers is focused on “Redefining Civil Affairs” and reflects an updated approach for the Issue Papers.

07/03/2025

A useful reference those writing on Issue Paper on “redefining civil affairs.”
The call for papers and Paper Guidelines are available for download on the Civil Affairs Association website.

NEW | A Primer on Russian Cognitive Warfare: https://isw.pub/RUSCognitiveWarPrimer

Key Takeaways:

Understanding cognitive warfare is a national security requirement for the United States.

Russia is a key player in the cognitive warfare space and a model for China, Iran, and North Korea. Russia has effectively used cognitive warfare to facilitate its war in Ukraine, shape Western decision-making, obfuscate Russian objectives, preserve Russian President Vladimir Putin's regime, and mask Russia’s weaknesses.

Cognitive warfare is Russia’s way of war, governance, and occupation. The goals, means, and effects of Russian cognitive warfare are far greater than disinformation at the tactical level.

The United States should not counter Russian cognitive warfare symmetrically. The key to defending against Russian cognitive warfare is doing so at the level of strategic reasoning while resisting the urge to chase Russia's tactical disinformation efforts.

This primer is the first report from ISW’s new Cognitive Warfare Task Force, which studies, visualizes, and contextualizes how adversaries use cognitive warfare to influence the US perceptions and decision-making in pursuit of their strategic goals. Read it here: https://isw.pub/RUSCognitiveWarPrimer

06/26/2025

The Civil Affairs Association has issued its call for papers for the 12th volume of the Civil Affairs Issue Papers. This year’s call for papers is focused on “Redefining Civil Affairs” and reflects an updated approach for the Issue Papers.

06/26/2025

Before a warrior learns to lead, they must learn to think. Before they learn to command, they must learn to reflect. Writing, then, is not a secondary skill—it is a foundational act of warfighti

06/26/2025

06/16/2025

This year's Roundtable’s provided a more focused discussion on the activities of conventional and special operations CA forces, regional and host nation civil-military forces, and interagency partners in theater security cooperation, deterrence, and campaign planning in their assigned theaters. Civil Affairs Command (CACOM) staff facilitated panel discussions among professionals working within the geographic combatant commands (GCCs)—AFRICOM, CENTCOM, EUCOM, SOUTHCOM, and INDOPACOM (in that order). In other words, the Roundtable went regional to go global.
Check out the report!

06/16/2025

Writing, indeed, is warfighting.
We at the Civil Affairs Association have long believed in intellectual capitalization and readiness as vital to the development of civil affairs - as reflected in the Civil Affairs Issue Papers, now in its 12th volume.
Check out the call for papers on “redefining civil affairs” on our website!

Before a warrior learns to lead, they must learn to think. Before they learn to command, they must learn to reflect. Writing, then, is not a secondary skill—it is a foundational act of warfighti