Civil Affairs Operations (FM 3-57)

FM 3-57 provides Army commanders with the information necessary for the integration of Civil Affairs (CA) capabilities in support of unified land operations. It also provides the doctrinal basis for the conduct of Civil Affairs operations (CAO) in support of civil-military operations (CMO). FM 3-57 clarifies the role of CA forces in the execution of CAO, and in support of CMO, with regard to the missions, employment, support requirements, capabilities, and limitations of these forces. CA forces execute CAO in support of unified land operations in all theaters across the range of military operations to achieve unified action. A force multiplier for every commander, CA forces are one of the primary resources a commander has to assist in dealing with the complex and ever-changing civil component of the operational environment (OE). CA forces are trained, organized, and equipped to plan, execute, and assess CAO in support of Army and joint operations.