One of the most important aspects of managing a conflict is civil affairs. Today’s operations are no longer confined to open fields and lines of fortifications; instead, they focus on cities and population centers. The needs of the people living in these areas are vitally important to the successful completion of an operation. Having the support of the local population can often be the difference between success and failure.

Who Manages Civil Affairs?

Appropriately named, Civil Affairs Specialists operate as a resource for citizens in combat and crisis situations. They are also utilized in times of peace to coordinate emergency response plans for regional and national disasters in our own country and abroad. Civil Affairs is often seen as the hinge between military branches and local communities, governments, and relief agencies in order to maintain a high quality of life for people affected by conflict and disaster.

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How Are Civilians’ Needs Addressed By The Army?

Civil Affairs Specialists perform many of the on-the-ground tasks and are the face of the armed services to local communities and organizations. Specialists are trained to identify and address critical needs of local populations. They also locate civil resources to support military operations and to minimize civilian interference with those operations while facilitating humanitarian assistance activities.

A large amount of research and communication is needed to perform these duties. Meeting the needs of civilians while still supporting military goals can be a difficult balance to achieve, but failure is never an option for any part of the Army.

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Today’s Army and armed services employ the latest tactics and operations in the pursuit of our national objectives and in protection of our national ideals. Both conventional tactics, such as combined arms, and non-conventional tactics, such as counter-insurgency operations, have a place within the military apparatus. There are also many non-standard tactics employed that many people are not aware of and deserve a closer look.

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Psychological Operations Specialist

The Army is always looking for ways to fight smarter. This specialist utilizes psychology as a tool in the armed services arsenal. In particular, this position is “an information and media specialist who can assess the information needs of a target population and develop and deliver the right message at the right time and place to create the intended result.”

These operations are put into use for the intelligence and PSYOP branches. Winning the hearts and minds of a population can be as vital to controlling territory and resources. In the same vein, subterfuge and deception also play a vital role in protecting American forces and allowing them to complete their objectives. Accordingly, these same ideas have to be employed to defend against an enemy’s attempts to perform similar operations.

It might be difficult to see a psychology expert employed in actual warfare beyond the role of counselor. Yet, understanding human nature and using that understanding is vital to winning a conflict at the strategic level. Today’s Army has positions available for individuals from all walks of life and with a plethora of skills and talents.

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The United States Army Special Forces comprises the best trained and disciplined troops in the world. There are many roles to fill in the special forces, known as MOS’s or Military Occupation Specialties. For the best of the best, joining the Special Forces is the best way to use one’s talents and skills to serve our country.

Special Operations Engineer

Combat engineering meets special operations. Employing conventional and nonconventional warfare tactics and techniques in combat engineering is this MOS’s bread and butter. When it comes to small teams and advanced tactics, special operations engineers delve into explosives, improvised munitions, mine/countermine operations, bridging, rigging, electrical wiring, reconnaissance, and target analysis. Most importantly, these Special Forces combat engineers can engage in high level sabotage operations with standard and improvised munitions and explosives. With a combination of technical expertise and Special Forces training, these MOS’s are highly effective members of the armed forces.

Special Operations Weapons Sergeant

This MOS is the ultimate specialist in warfare tactics and techniques in individual and small unit infantry operations. They are trained to utilize a plethora of tools from small arms to light and heavy crew served weapons as well as anti-aircraft and anti-armor weapons. A weapons sergeant is the basic unit in projecting power and completing operations in a Special Forces squad.

There are many more available MOS’s within the Special Forces, but these provide a good overview of how the elite soldiers within the Army perform their duty to serve their country.

Every person who desires to join the Army or armed services has a special privilege. It is not the benefits or incentives, rank or pay, there is a higher honor afforded to every member of the United States military. This honor is outlined in the US Armed Forces Oath of Enlistment.

The Oath Itself

“I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”

Traditions Stand Strong

The US Armed Forces Oath of Enlistment is a sacred tradition going back to the birth of our nation in 1775. What makes this Oath unique is that each enlisted man or woman is not pledging to defend a particular person or place. Instead, service in the military is about protecting the Constitution, the basis for all of our liberties and freedoms. The higher ideals in life are what deserve such a solemn Oath and there is no greater cause than the defense of liberty, whether it is the 18^th century of the 21^st.

The pride and sense of purpose that soldiers feel stems from this Oath. Knowing that the time spent in the armed services is spent in honoring the ideals of a nation and a free people are what enable ordinary people to perform extraordinary feats.

Today’s Army and armed services are putting greater emphasis on the individual soldier and their development. The expanded Post 9-11 GI Bill and the expansion of dependant benefits ensures that our veterans are being taken care of. For those servicemen and women who have already served their country, there are more benefits available for those who want to embark on a second Army career.

There are many reasons why a veteran would want to begin a second tour of duty. Many miss the camaraderie and discipline of their fellow soldiers, or the clear purpose and meaningful missions that define armed service. Whatever the reason, there are now even more incentives to help ease veterans back into service.

Prior Service

The foundation what a veteran can offer the United States is their prior service record and experience. The Army appreciates that experience without the need for basic training and having to instill basic values. In return, every year of prior service counts towards determining benefits and retirement options for returning veterans. All applicable awards and certifications are still in effect. There are very few penalties for the time out of the service; it is easy for nearly all returning veterans to pick up their careers where they left them.

Enlistment Incentives

For highly desired positions and MOS’s, sign up bonuses for veterans can reach six figures. The Army is very serious about compensating veterans who will bring their wealth of military and civilian experience back into service for their country.

Veterans returning the armed service can utilize their past experiences to help their country once again and be justly compensated.

After leaving active duty, many former servicemen and women begin to miss something in their lives. The feeling of discipline, camaraderie and purpose can sometimes be lost in the civilian world after years of service to one’s country and fellow countrymen. Those with prior military experience often consider re-enlisting to continue their military careers.

Today, there are many open MOS’s and a need for experienced soldiers to rejoin the service to keep America’s Army in top condition. In order to ease the transition back into active service, there are a number of incentives that the military provides for returning veterans.

Deployment Flexibility

Veterans have the opportunity to rejoin the military in any service branch they choose; they are not restricted to the same branch they were discharged from. This flexibility allows an even greater chance to learn new skills, receive training, and apply new and old experiences to a military and civilian career. Of course, an Army tank driver might find it difficult to apply those skills in the Navy, but most MOS’s are compatible.

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Eased Entry Requirements

Each reenlistment situation is different, but in general, most returning veterans will skip basic training. Special training camps and programs will still be required if applicable. The ASVAB and physical screening are typically mandatory for the second stint, but they should not be a problem the second time around. Best of all, every year of prior service is retained when determining benefits, and pay grades are usually retained as well.

With fast-tracked reenlistment procedures and operational flexibility, starting on a second military career is as easy today as it ever has been.

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Service in the United States armed forces requires great sacrifice from every single enlisted person and officer. Many people forget that behind every person serving their country, there is a family back home that is shouldering a burden too. The military never forgets about military family, they are provided with a host of benefits in order to keep America’s most important families intact.

Relocation, Separation, And Dependant Benefits

In addition to the benefits that all servicemen and women receive, relocation benefits are also provided to move entire families to match duty assignments. Healthcare and health insurance is made available to each family member in addition to life insurance to cover expenses in case the unfortunate ever occurs. Under the latest amendment to the GI Bill, spouses and dependants of active duty personnel with 10 years of service are eligible for the same education benefits, including complete tuition reimbursement for a four year state college.

When a family cannot move with their soldier, a separation allowance provides a safety net for the entire family.

Base Amenities

In order to make each deployment feel a little more like home, there are a number of services and amenities available on base to service personnel and their families. Sports teams and fitness plans are organized for spouses and children as well as discounted entertainment vouchers and travel planning. Financial services, tax preparation, and legal services help families keep their personal matters in order.

Overall, the Army wants to provide the same level of support for families as they do for every soldier who serves.

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery is the first opportunity for recruits to show how qualified they are for service to their country. This aptitude test is the first hurdle that will try applicants in their Army career.

The ASVAB is not just a multiple choice test. Being successful in this task is a good display of how well a recruit will perform as an enlisted Army man or woman. The key to the ASVAB is preparation, discipline, and determination. Notice how these are the same requirements for success in the armed services in general.

Study Smarter

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Cramming for a test might have worked sometimes in high school, but it won’t work in the military. Preparation and time management are the key to ASVAB excellence. Laying out a study timeline is the only way to explore each of the four sections of the ASVAB in sufficient detail.

Practice Will Definitely Make Perfect

It might be an old cliché, but practice is the only way to get better at the ASVAB. There are a number of free sample tests as well as online resources and study guides. Taking the time to go through as many sample tests as possible is the best way to ace the exam.

Start by taking a practice exam slowly to learn all the details about how the exam is structured. Then, work up to simulating a real test environment by sticking to the same time constraints as the real thing. When the day comes, make sure to get plenty of sleep and have a nutritious breakfast. Excellence in the ASVAB is the first step to Army excellence.

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery is the qualification exam that every recruit will have to take in order to successfully enlist in the United States Army or any branch of service. Every enlisted man and women will have to pass this hurdle in order to prove they are qualified to serve in the United States armed services.

Scoring well on the ASVAB is about more than just passing in order to satisfy a requirement. Aptitude scores are a measure of how a recruit will do in their military career. The ASVAB score is factored in to signing bonuses and which MOS’s are available for each recruit. It is important to score as high as possible on the ASVAB in order to start one’s Army career on the right path.

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Answer Every Question

There is no penalty for an incorrect answer. Therefore, there is no reason to leave a question blank. It is best to make an educated guess on a question, as every point scored helps the final grade.

Don’t Be Afraid To Skip A Question

However, do not take too much time to answer one question. Spending five minutes staring at the same problem is a waste of valuable test time and the right answer is not going to just pop out.

Eliminate False Choices

Every ASVAB question is multiple choice with four possible answers. Most of the problems will have 1 or 2 choices that can be eliminated as the wrong answer. By eliminating two wrong choices, the chance to get the right answer is 50-50. This technique can often turn difficult problems into manageable one.

These three tips will help in answering any and all ASVAB test questions.

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The original GI Bill, passed in 1944, was designed to provide educational opportunities to the veterans who had served their country through the difficult years of World War II. Today, the men and women of the Army and armed services have a similar opportunity with the Post 9-11 GI Bill, also known as Chapter 33.

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Education Benefits

The new GI Bill package includes a generous complete tuition benefit to attend any four year public college in the state of enlistment. This provision can be worth over $13,000 alone and is one of the largest benefits offered to veterans in the history of the United States Army. In addition, if a veteran desires to attend a more expensive private school, the Bill will also share the extra expense 1 to 1 with the veteran. A monthly living stipend, dependant on the current cost of living, is provided to help the veteran pay their bills and stay in school, in addition to an annual stipend to cover books and fees. Finally, the old program enrollment fee of the GI Bill is completely waived.

Who Is Eligible

These unbelievable benefits are offered to any serviceman or woman who has completed 36 months of duty since September 11^th, 2001. A program applicant must already have a high school diploma or its equivalent. Best of all, after a total of 10 years of service, these benefits also extend to a veterans spouse and children.

Today’s military is dedicated to furthering the education of every one of its brave soldiers.

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