Civil Affairs Soldiers participate in realistic civil military operations training

[The Patriot]

A circle of humvees idled quietly on Blackstone Army Air Field, Va. providing security as Alpha company’s commander, Maj. Rachel Levy, tried to reach headquarters for the company’s first mission of the day. The mission was simple, meet with two civilians at a deserted sports stadium and assess the land as a potential location for displaced civilians. The catch? Who were these civilians? Are they friendly, squatters or do they legally own the land? Civil Affairs soldiers use information they gather to better inform military commanders of their operational area and lessen the impact of military operations during peace, contingency operations and war.

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