VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- The 437th Civil Affairs Battalion (U.S. Army Reserve) will conduct its activation ceremony on the Chapel Parade Field at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Jan. 7, at 1:00 p.m.
The ceremony will formally recognize the Battalion joining the ranks of the 28 other Army Reserve Civil Affairs Battalions, under the United States Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), as the newest Civil Affairs Battalion in the Army.
As the 437th joins the ranks of its sister Battalions its training has shifted into high gear to prepare its soldiers for potential mobilization and deployment in support of Overseas Contingency Operations as well as state-side training requirements. Civil affairs soldiers are cultural and regional experts who provide direct support to Army land forces in managing interactions with local civilian authorities as well as U.S. government, international, and non-governmental organizations.
The 437th has been building personnel strength and operational capability since June 2011 and currently has more than 100 Soldiers assigned out of an authorized end-strength of over 200, with more soldiers joining the ranks each week.
Civil affairs soldiers' skills and efforts lead to better rapport between the U.S. military and civil agencies frequently resulting in improvements to local governance and infrastructure and quality of life for the country's citizens.
Civil affairs soldiers must be prepared to respond rapidly to support combat operations, humanitarian assistance missions, as well as facilitate civil infrastructure improvements in friendly nations.
The 437th is the only Battalion-size Army Reserve unit on Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story and drills monthly there and at other Virginia military installations.
| Date Taken: | 01.06.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 01.06.2012 15:17 |
| Story ID: | 82128 |
| Location: | VIRGINIA BEACH, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 1,530 |
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