6th Civil Affairs Group

6th Civil Affairs Group
	6th CAG insignia[1]
Active	Mar 2005 – Apr 2006
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	Civil Affairs
Size	Group composed of:; * Headquarter and Liaison elements,; * 3 regimental CA detachments of a CA headquarters element and 4 battalion CA teams (CATs); * 1 Government Support detachment which included a Governance Support team, a Provincial Civil-Military Operations Center (CMOC) in ar-Ramadi, and 3 regional CMOCs located in al-Fallujah, al-Qa'im, and al-Hadithah.
Part of	Multi-National Force West, Multi-National Forces - Iraq
Garrison/HQ	Camp Blue Diamond (Sep 2005–Jan 2006); Camp Fallujah (Jan - Mar 2006))
Engagements	Iraq War – Al Anbar campaign; * Operation Iraqi Freedom; * Operation Sayeed; * Operation Steel Curtain ; * Operation Liberty Express; * Operation Doctor; * Operation River Gate
Commanders
Notable; commanders	Col. Paul W. Brier

6th Civil Affairs Group (6th CAG) was a United States Marine Corps Civil Affairs unit: organized, trained and equipped on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina from April to September 2005; conducted civil-military operations and civil affairs activities in al-Anbar from September 2005 to March 2006; and redeployed and deactivated in the United States from March to April 2006.[2]

At the beginning of 2005, Marine Corps Commandant, General Michael W. Hagee, decided to establish the 5th and 6th CAGs to provide operational and personnel relief to the Corp’s two existing CAGs (3d CAG and 4th CAG), which had been continuously supporting Marine combat and stability operations in Iraq over the preceding three years.[2] The 6th CAG was activated on 1 June 2005, with Col. Paul W. Brier as the Commanding Officer and a cadre of officers and staff NCOs from the 4th Maintenance Battalion, to included its commander, LtCol Helen G. Pratt, as the 6th CAG’s Executive Officer.[3]

The 6th CAG deployed to Iraqi on 11 September and conducted a transfer of authority with the 5th Civil Affairs Group on 21 September.[4]

CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, RAMADI, Iraq– Col. Steve McKinley, seen left, commanding officer, 5th CAG transfers of authority to Col. Paul W. Brier, commanding officer, 6th Civil Affairs Group. Official Marine Corps photo by Sgt Ryan S. Scranton. 21 September 2005

Subsequently, the 6th CAG planned and provided civil affairs support for the command and ground combat elements of the 2nd Marine Division and Multi-National Force West in al-Anbar governate during 2005 and 2006. The Group supported operations including Operation Sayeed, Operation Steel Curtain and Operation Liberty Express. The unit was deactivated in April 2006 upon redeployment to the United States.[5]

AR RAMADI, Iraq (November 5, 2005) - Major Dan Wagner, team chief for Team 4, 6th Civil Affairs Group, speaks with his Marines before embarking on a patrol through the streets of Ar Ramadi Nov. 5. Photo by Cpl. Shane Suzuki

Ali Hassan Mohammed (middle), interpreter with 6th Civil Affairs Group in Husbayah, Iraq, listens intently to interpret the words of an elementary school principal for Lt. Col. Robert Glover. Glover is director of the Civil-Military Operations Center for the Al-Qaim region. The CMOC's mission is to facilitate reconstruction in western Iraq. 7 Dec 2005.

Mission

6th CAG's mission: "Plan and execute civil military operations in support the command and ground combat elements of the 2nd Marine Division and Multi-National Force West during Operation Iraqi Freedom, while serving as the liaison between military forces and civil authorities, the local population and non-governmental organizations. Conduct activities which enhance the relationship between the military and Iraqi personnel and organizations facilitated through application of civil affairs specialty skills in areas normally the responsibility of civil governments. Provide guidance in civil administration, economic development, heath, education, infrastructure restoration, and reconstruction."

Unit awards

A unit citation or commendation is an award bestowed upon an organization for the action cited. Members of the unit who participated in said actions are allowed to wear on their uniforms the awarded unit citation. The 6th Civil Affairs Group has been presented with the following awards:

Award	Year(s)	Additional Info
Navy Unit Commendation Streamer	28 Feb 2006 - 9 Feb 2007 SU I MEF (FWD)	Al Anbar Campaign
Navy Unit Commendation Streamer	1 Sep 2005 - 28 Feb 2006 SU II MEF (FWD)	Al Anbar Campaign
National Defense Service Streamer	11 Sep 2001 -	Global War on Terrorism
Iraq Campaign Streamer	Phase 3, Iraq Governance	Iraq War
Iraq Campaign Streamer	Phase 4, National Resolution	Iraq War
Global War on Terrorism Service Streamer	11 Sep 2001 -	Iraq War

Notes

The 6th Civil Affairs Group’s organizational emblem was intended to reflect the mission which caused its creation during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 2d Marine Division Spearhead was adopted as its basic shape because the 6th CAG would operate under its tactical control. The red, white with three green stars, and black bands, angled toward the tip of the spear conveying forward progress, was derived from the Iraqi National flag, both identifying the country in which the Group would operate and symbolizing the government it sought to build and strengthen. The gold eagle, globe and anchor outline on a red field shows that the Group is a USMC unit and is reminiscent of the Command’s guidon, further alluding to the CAG’s provisional nature, as provisional units which do not rate organizational colors. Finally, the scroll and sword depict the civil and military aspects of the Group's mission and are adapted from the US Army Civil Affairs insignia of branch. Upright and unsheathed, the sword reflects the unit primary mission of supporting the Division’s counterinsurgency operations as well as the military support necessary to re-establishing civil government. Partially unrolled, the parchment scroll shows the beginning of democratic government based on laws and allude to the Constitutional referendum and the election of a permanent national government that occurred during the Group’s tour in Iraq.
Estes, Kenneth W. (2011). Into the Fray: U.S. Marines in Iraq, 2004-2005 (PDF). U.S. Marines in the Global War on Terrorism. United States Marine Corps History Division, Marine Corps University. pp. 131–134. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
Estes, Kenneth W. (2011). Into the Fray: U.S. Marines in Iraq, 2004-2005 (PDF). U.S. Marines in the Global War on Terrorism. United States Marine Corps History Division, Marine Corps University. pp. 131, 161. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
Acosta, Jeffrey; Decker, Ray; Saunders, Greer (2007). "Field History: A History of the 6th Civil Affairs Group" (PDF). Fortitudine. Vol. 32 no. 4. United States Marine Corps History Division, Marine Corps University. p. 11. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
Acosta, Jeffrey; Decker, Ray; Saunders, Greer (2007). "Field History: A History of the 6th Civil Affairs Group" (PDF). Fortitudine. Vol. 32 no. 4. United States Marine Corps History Division, Marine Corps University. pp. 11–12. Retrieved 13 May 2010.

References

Web

"What is Civil Affairs?". The Civil Affairs Association. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
"Civil Affairs continues making a positive difference". Hi-Desert Star. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
"Navy Physician Heading to Iraq with Marine Corps Civil Affairs Group". Navy News Services. Retrieved 14 May 2020.

6th CAG March April 2006 Newsletter

External links

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[1] The 6th Civil Affairs Group’s organizational emblem was intended to reflect the mission which caused its creation during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 2d Marine Division Spearhead was adopted as its basic shape because the 6th CAG would operate under its tactical control. The red, white with three green stars, and black bands, angled toward the tip of the spear conveying forward progress, was derived from the Iraqi National flag, both identifying the country in which the Group would operate and symbolizing the government it sought to build and strengthen. The gold eagle, globe and anchor outline on a red field shows that the Group is a USMC unit and is reminiscent of the Command’s guidon, further alluding to the CAG’s provisional nature, as provisional units which do not rate organizational colors. Finally, the scroll and sword depict the civil and military aspects of the Group's mission and are adapted from the US Army Civil Affairs insignia of branch. Upright and unsheathed, the sword reflects the unit primary mission of supporting the Division’s counterinsurgency operations as well as the military support necessary to re-establishing civil government. Partially unrolled, the parchment scroll shows the beginning of democratic government based on laws and allude to the Constitutional referendum and the election of a permanent national government that occurred during the Group’s tour in Iraq.

[estes_131–134-2] Estes, Kenneth W. (2011). Into the Fray: U.S. Marines in Iraq, 2004-2005 (PDF). U.S. Marines in the Global War on Terrorism. United States Marine Corps History Division, Marine Corps University. pp. 131–134. Retrieved 13 May 2010.

[3] Estes, Kenneth W. (2011). Into the Fray: U.S. Marines in Iraq, 2004-2005 (PDF). U.S. Marines in the Global War on Terrorism. United States Marine Corps History Division, Marine Corps University. pp. 131, 161. Retrieved 13 May 2010.

[4] Acosta, Jeffrey; Decker, Ray; Saunders, Greer (2007). "Field History: A History of the 6th Civil Affairs Group" (PDF). Fortitudine. Vol. 32 no. 4. United States Marine Corps History Division, Marine Corps University. p. 11. Retrieved 13 May 2010.

[5] Acosta, Jeffrey; Decker, Ray; Saunders, Greer (2007). "Field History: A History of the 6th Civil Affairs Group" (PDF). Fortitudine. Vol. 32 no. 4. United States Marine Corps History Division, Marine Corps University. pp. 11–12. Retrieved 13 May 2010.