U.S. Army Activates New Company for Training Civil Affairs Soldiers

The U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School has activated a new company dedicated to training civil affairs Soldiers on Fort Bragg, N.C. The unit, D Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne), will provide training for officers and NCOs to join the Army Reserve's civil affairs community. Civil affairs Soldiers serve combatant commanders by quickly identifying critical requirements needed by local citizens in war or disaster situations. The new unit's commanding officer, Maj. C. Shawn Keller, emphasized the importance of providing high-quality training for Army Reserve officers and NCOs.

Key Takeaways:

• The U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School has activated a new company, D Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne), dedicated to training civil affairs Soldiers.
• The unit will provide training for officers and NCOs to join the Army Reserve's civil affairs community, which serves combatant commanders in war or disaster situations.
• Civil affairs Soldiers bring lessons from their civilian education, careers, and experiences to military operations when called to active-duty.
• The Army Reserve's U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) is comprised of four subordinate commands, seven brigades, and 28 battalions across the United States.
• The unit's commanding officer, Maj. C. Shawn Keller, is a native of Charleston, S.C., and has deployed to Iraq as a civil affairs team leader.
• Keller and the company's acting first sergeant, Sgt. 1st Class William K. Sauder, are members of the U.S. Army Reserve, on Active Guard-Reserve orders with SWCS.
• The new unit will build upon the exceptional legacy of training conducted by the 1st SWTG(A) and provide the most beneficial, challenging, and rewarding training possible for Army Reserve officers and NCOs.

Statistics:

• Ninety-four percent of the Department of Defense's civil affairs forces are found in the Army Reserve's U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne).
• 7 brigades and 28 battalions make up the Army Reserve's U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne).
• The 1st SWTG(A) manages Army special-operations training for current and prospective Civil Affairs, Military Information Support Operations, and Special Forces Soldiers.

Sources:

• U.S. Army Special Operations Command press release
• U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School press release