Bragg-based unit partners with universities to study civil affairs

By Spc. Jongsu Oh
95th CA Bde.

October 20, 2011

	Photo by Spc. Jongsu Oh/95th CA Bde. PAO 95th Civil Affairs Brigade key leaders discuss topics from the working group with the consortium of six universities in the United States and Great Britain and the 1st Canadian Mechanized Battle Group Sept. 28.

The 95th Civil Affairs Brigade is partnering with a consortium of six universities in the United States and Great Britain, the U.S. Africa Command, and the 1st Canadian Mechanized Battle Group to foster the emerging field of civil affairs science.

The consortium initiated the partnership with a three-day conference Sept. 26 through 28 hosted by the 95th CA Brigade at Fort Bragg.

The conference included a series of briefings to introduce consortium partners to each other, field visits to training events involving the brigade’s Soldiers, and a series of meetings to discuss details of working relationships among the consortium partners.

“We are pleased and excited to work with academic professionals of some of the leading universities in the U.S. and United Kingdom,” said Col. Jay Wolff, 95th CA Bde.
commander. “They will help our brigade, the Africa Command and our counterparts in the Canadian army develop a solid, research-based education in the 5D’s of civil affairs — diplomacy, defense, development, disaster, and data.”

The consortium is now working on five initiatives.

University of Wales graduate students will do research focused on the 95th CA Bde.’s missions and operations.

Human effects advisors from the 1st Canadian Mechanized Battle Group will be part of a cadre to train brigade Soldiers on the complexities of contemporary, civil-military operating environments.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, with AFRICOM, is working on a project to better integrate human and machine intelligence data into a common operating picture for commanders.

University of Wales, University of Central Florida, University of Michigan, Queens University and Harvard University are collaborating on a $70 million initiative to use the latest computer technology to take various forms of information in conventional databases and synthesize them to provide a systematic approach to understanding the civil domain where Civil Affairs Soldiers are deployed.

“I really had no idea what to expect, but this conference exceeded anything I could have expected,” said Dr. Steven Chan from the University of Wales. “The range of topics and experiences of the presenters made this a wonderful educational opportunity. I hope to take some of these ideas and concepts with me as I continue to think and discuss these issues.”

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