353d Civil Affairs Command

The first Civil Affairs units in the U.S. Army were formed during World War II. Additional units saw service in subsequent conflicts. Civil Affairs/Military Government was established as an Army Reserve Branch on 17 August 1955. Subsequently redesignated as the Civil Affairs Branch on 2 October 1959, its members continued its mission to provide guidance to commanders on a broad spectrum of civil affairs activities. The expansion of Civil Affairs in the Regular Army led to Civil Affairs beings established as a basic branch of the Army effective 16 October 2006 by Department of the Army General Orders (AGO) No. 29, 12 January 2007. [3]

The 353d was created in New York, N.Y. as the 353d Military Government Area A Headquarters on July 14, 1952. The third commander of the unit was Colonel Frank E. Toscani, a civil affairs officer who was the inspiration for John Hersey's 1944 Novel, "A Bell for Adano."[4]

COL Toscani is quoted in comprehensive volume “Civil Affairs Soldiers Become Governors”[5]

Experience has shown that in the initial stages of the landing at Salerno/Paestum, civilian food supplies were not properly phased and did not arrive on time. Since then, we have organized a system of supplies which has worked with marked success to the extent that communes were supplied within 48 hours after liberation during the offensive of the 5th Army of May-September 1944.

A small piece of the memo but one can see that a primary concern of the Civil Affairs Soldier is the wellbeing of the civilian population. One of the most basic units of human need is food. CA Soldiers past and present can be the vital link needed to provide a population with immediate calories and the tools/venue for a population to regain the ability sustain itself after/during conflict.

[6] In 1968, the 353d relocated from Manhattan's West Side to the Patterson USAR Center in the Bronx. Seven years later, the 353d was designed as a civil affairs command. During the 1970s, the 353d shifted its focus from local community and civic activities to an international role. This role included command of several units of other branches, and the mission of housing and relocating 20,000 Cuban refugees from the Mariel boatlift in 1980. The 353d gained in prestige, becoming a leader in the civil affairs community. This period culminated in the development of memoranda of understanding and, in 1981, capstone assignments to Headquarters, U.S. Army Europe (USAEUR) for a civil military cooperation (CIMIC) mission and assignment of CIMIC teams to USAREUR's major subordinate commands.

In 1984, the 353d's role grew again. This time it incorporated CA/CIMIC staff assistance to Headquarters, U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) in West Germany and the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force (USASETAF) in Vicenza, Italy. In major CIMIC exercises, the 353d fielded up to 450 CA operators in Europe. In December 1989, as directed by the newly formed United States Army Reserve Special Operations Command (USARSOC), Fort Bragg, N.C., the 353d deployed two dozen Soldiers to participate in Operation Just Cause in Panama. Within a year, USARSOC was designated as the United States Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) [USACAPOC(A)], as headquartered at Fort Bragg.

Starting in June 1999, 353d Soldier took part in Operation Joint Guardian in Kosovo. The deployment followed the signing of the Military Technical Agreement (MTA) by NATO. Their mission was to conduct civil military operations in Kosovo in support of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244.

Early in the new millennium, the 353d supported a variety of exercises in Eastern Europe and Africa. The unit took part in Operations Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). The 353d was activated for OIF-II and assumed command of its subordinate units in Iraq upon arrival. In 2006, civil affairs units were reassigned from USSOCOM to United States Forces Command (JFCOM), then further assigned to the United States Army Reserve Command (USARC).

The command is currently supporting military operations in Africa, Afghanistan and Europe.

A gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height overall consisting of a gold rolled scroll tied with a purple sealed ribbon, the scroll inclined to the upper left and the base conjoined with the point of a gold sword inclined with hilt in upper right, all in front of and flanking a gold symbol of man with outstretched arms touching the scroll and sword, and all upon the upper section of a white globe with gold grid lines, between a three-tongued red flame on each side and in front of gold rays throughout; all within a purple scroll inscribed "ORDER" at the top, looped in back of the top of the scroll and sword hilt and inscribed "GOVERNMENT FREEDOM" at the sides and base in gold letters.[7]

Purple and white are colors used for Civil Affairs. The stylized figure denotes the human factors which are essential elements of Civil Affairs operations. The sealed scroll represents the establishment of order through law and together with the rays of light signifies government with freedom. The enflamed globe and sword allude to the aftermath of battle and also connote the military - political capabilities of the organization.[8]

The shoulder sleeve insignia was approved on 10 Feb 1977. The quill, sword and civic crown are symbolic of planning, training and readiness requisite to the United States Army's conduct of civic affairs and military government operations in countries in which United States Armed Forces are or may employed. The torch alludes to guidance and the vertical rises or steps simulate the silhouette of the Manhattan skyline adjoining the home area and location of the organization. The 353rd Civil Affairs Command is based at Ft. Wadsworth, Staten Island, New York. Prior to that, it was headquartered in the Bronx, NY.[9]

The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for 353d Civil Affairs Area (A) on 27 May 1970. It was redesignated for the 353d Civil Affairs Command on 9 December 1976.[10]