View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Calhoun, Institutional Archive of the Naval Postgraduate School Calhoun: The NPS Institutional Archive Theses and Dissertations Thesis Collection 2013-12 The evolution of the Civil Affairs force Ferry, John V. Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School http://hdl.handle.net/10945/38928 NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA THESIS THE EVOLUTION OF THE CIVIL AFFAIRS FORCE by John V. Ferry Benny H. Romero December 2013 Thesis Co-advisors: George Lober Camber Warren Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form Approved OMB No. 0704–0188 Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instruction, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202–4302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0704–0188) Washington, DC 20503. 1. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave blank) 2. REPORT DATE 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED December 2013 Master’s Thesis 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5. FUNDING NUMBERS THE EVOLUTION OF THE CIVIL AFFAIRS FORCE 6. AUTHOR(S) John V. Ferry and Benny H. Romero 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION Naval Postgraduate School REPORT NUMBER Monterey, CA 93943–5000 9. SPONSORING /MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSORING/MONITORING N/A AGENCY REPORT NUMBER 11. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES The views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government. IRB Protocol number ____N/A____. 12a. DISTRIBUTION / AVAILABILITY STATEMENT 12b. DISTRIBUTION CODE Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited A 13. ABSTRACT (maximum 200 words) Beginning with the United States (U.S.)–Mexican War in 1846 and continuing to the most recent combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, United States military history has repeatedly shown the importance of civil affairs operations: that is, shaping the civil component of the operational environment. During this span, civil affairs operations have evolved from operations conducted only by combat units to those conducted by a dedicated Civil Affairs force. The demand for Civil Affairs has increased significantly since September 11, 2001, and in response to that demand, the Army has attempted to grow the Civil Affairs force in both the active and reserve components. The rapid growth in demand for Civil Affairs has led to the creation of a Civil Affairs force composed of one active-duty Civil Affairs special-operations brigade, one active-duty Civil Affairs brigade for conventional forces, and nine reserve civil affairs brigades. The current Civil Affairs force structure is subordinate to three commands: the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, U.S. Forces Command, and the U.S. Army Reserve Command. This thesis analyzes the current Civil Affairs force structure within the active and reserve components by using three metrics: training efficiency, organizational efficiency, and operational efficiency. It addresses the question of whether the current Civil Affairs structure reflects the most efficient design, and if not, what changes are needed to improve efficiency. 14. SUBJECT TERMS Civil Affairs, Force Structure, 95th Civil Affairs Brigade (A), 85th Civil 15. NUMBER OF Affairs Brigade, U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command, Unification, Unity PAGES of Effort, Operational Efficiency, Organizational Efficiency, Training Efficiency, Network 115 16. PRICE CODE 17. SECURITY 18. SECURITY 19. SECURITY 20. LIMITATION OF CLASSIFICATION OF CLASSIFICATION OF THIS CLASSIFICATION OF ABSTRACT REPORT PAGE ABSTRACT Unclassified Unclassified Unclassified UU NSN 7540–01–280–5500 Standard Form 298 (Rev. 2–89) Prescribed by ANSI Std. 239–18 i THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK ii Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited THE EVOLUTION OF THE CIVIL AFFAIRS FORCE John V. Ferry Major, United States Army B.A., Mississippi State University, 1998 Benny H. Romero Major, United States Army B.A., Texas State University, San Marcos, 2001 Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE IN DEFENSE ANALYSIS from the NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL December 2013 Authors: John V. Ferry Benny H. Romero Approved by: George Lober Thesis Co-advisor Camber Warren Thesis Co-advisor John Arquilla Chair, Department of Defense Analysis iii THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK iv ABSTRACT Beginning with the United States (U.S.)–Mexican War in 1846 and continuing to the most recent combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, United States military history has repeatedly shown the importance of civil affairs operations: that is, shaping the civil component of the operational environment. During this span, civil affairs operations have evolved from operations conducted only by combat units to those conducted by a dedicated Civil Affairs force. The demand for Civil Affairs has increased significantly since September 11, 2001, and in response to that demand, the Army has attempted to grow the Civil Affairs force in both the active and reserve components. The rapid growth in demand for Civil Affairs has led to the creation of a Civil Affairs force composed of one active-duty Civil Affairs special-operations brigade, one active-duty Civil Affairs brigade for conventional forces, and nine reserve civil affairs brigades. The current Civil Affairs force structure is subordinate to three commands: the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, U.S. Forces Command, and the U.S. Army Reserve Command. This thesis analyzes the current Civil Affairs force structure within the active and reserve components by using three metrics: training efficiency, organizational efficiency, and operational efficiency. It addresses the question of whether the current Civil Affairs structure reflects the most efficient design, and if not, what changes are needed to improve efficiency. v THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK vi TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................1 A. BACKGROUND ..............................................................................................1 B. RESEARCH QUESTION ...............................................................................4 C. HYPOTHESIS..................................................................................................4 D. LITERATURE REVIEW ...............................................................................4 E. THEORY ..........................................................................................................9 F. METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................11 II. ANALYSIS OF CURRENT CIVIL AFFAIRS FORCE STRUCTURE ..............13 A. ORGANIZATIONAL EFFICIENCY ..........................................................13 B. TRAINING EFFICIENCY ...........................................................................15 C. OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY ..................................................................16 III. CASE STUDIES .........................................................................................................19 A. ORGANIZATIONAL EFFICIENCY–UNITED STATES NORTHERN COMMAND ...........................................................................19 1. Organizational Efficiency ..................................................................21 2. Training and Exercises: Building Relationships .............................23 3. Dual-Status Command in Action–Republican National Convention ..........................................................................................25 4. Waldo Canyon Fire–Colorado ..........................................................26 5. Conclusion ..........................................................................................27 B. TRAINING EFFICIENCY–CREATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY .....................................................................27 1. Flexible and Fast Training Response ...............................................29 2. Cost Avoidance and Operational Efficiencies .................................32 C. OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY–THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1986 (GOLDWATER– NICHOLS ACT) ............................................................................................35 1. Failed Iranian Rescue ........................................................................36 2. Marine Barracks Bombing................................................................37 3. GNA Objectives ..................................................................................37 4. Gulf War .............................................................................................38 5. Somalia ................................................................................................39 6. Conclusion ..........................................................................................40