Civil-military co-operation

"CIMIC" redirects here. For the civil engineering company, see CIMIC Group.

Compare civil-military coordination and civil-military operations.

Not to be confused with military-civil fusion.

Not to be confused with military cooperative.

Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) involves military commanders establishing connections with civilian agencies in operational theaters.^[1]

Portuguese Army soldiers in a CIMIC action in Pristina, Kosovo.

CIMIC activities are coordinated through the "G9" staff branch in divisional or other headquarters. In larger joint headquarters, this department is designated as "J9."

History

The United States Army has maintained civil affairs units since WWII.^[2] Part of their function includes CIMIC tasks, however, they have a much broader function and a different focus from most other CIMIC organizations. In the mid-1990s most NATO members began developing their own CIMIC structures, which lead to the establishment of the Civil-Military Cooperation Centre of Excellence in The Hague in 2001.^[3] Germany maintains its own centre.^[4]

Operations

In areas of operation, civilians such as private citizens, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and representatives of the local administration often interact with Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) personnel through designated **CIMIC Centres**. These centres serve as points of contact for civilians seeking assistance from military authorities on issues related to infrastructure, security, or humanitarian needs.^[5][6]

CIMIC functions are not limited to specialized structures or assigned personnel. Every soldier who interacts with civilians, intentionally or incidentally, can influence the effectiveness of the mission. For this reason, deployed troops are generally briefed on CIMIC principles, communication practices, and reporting procedures.^[7][8]

In post-conflict situations, CIMIC activities often involve cooperation with military engineering, medical, or veterinary units to support local recovery efforts. Typical projects include the restoration of water supply, sanitation facilities, health clinics, and essential infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and electricity networks.^[9]

Language and cultural awareness are also key aspects of CIMIC operations. Basic greetings and local customs can help establish rapport with the population, while interpreters and locally employed civilians are often engaged to bridge cultural and linguistic gaps. Cultural training helps personnel avoid misunderstandings and fosters constructive relations with the host community.^[10][11]

Doctrine

The key document explaining NATO CIMIC doctrine is Allied Joint Publication 9.^[12] It outlines the three core functions of CIMIC:^[13]

1. Support to the Force: any activity designed to create support for the military force, from within the indigenous population.
2. Civil-Military Liaison: coordination and joint planning with civilian agencies, in support of the military mission.
3. Support to the Civil Environment: the provision of any of a variety of forms of assistance (expertise, information, security, infrastructure, capacity-building, etc.) to the local population, in support of the military mission.

Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) involves soldiers trained in engaging with civilians during operations. It is both a capability and a function. Soldiers receive CIMIC training, but many also perform CIMIC tasks as part of routine operations. CIMIC Operators provide expertise and advice to commanders on CIMIC matters, enhancing civilian-military interactions.

CIMIC functions as a force multiplier. For instance, by establishing connections with non-governmental organizations or local officials, CIMIC personnel might identify specific mission threats. This enables them to alert the commander, who can allocate resources to address the threat. This approach reduces the need for extensive patrols and optimizes soldier deployment.

NATO CIMIC reporting

There is a vital need for translating relevant information into CIMIC knowledge.

A NATO working group is working to address this issue by developing a CIMIC reporting system that facilitates information sharing across different levels, from tactical to strategic.

In current operations, CIMIC staffs handle extensive information. CECIL working group developed tools to enhance assessments, streamline information flow within CIMIC, and share pertinent info with the staff.

Efforts are needed to enhance collaboration between NATO and civilian partners in operations, with a particular focus on addressing challenges related to information sharing. The system has been tested and has also proven to be a useful tool to consolidate/collect data for the Afghan Country Stability Picture (ACSP).

The CECIL Working Group identified diverse CIMIC reporting formats, often due to the absence of standardized guidelines across different headquarters.

Reporting history

During the Partnership for Peace (PFP) Exercise VIKING '05, representatives from SHAPE and JFC Brunssum identified the need for improved CIMIC reporting. The ACOSs from ACO at SHAPE and NATO's operational headquarters (JFC Brunssum, JFC Naples and JC Lisbon) discussed the issue and established in May 2006 the CECIL Working Group (WG). The WG consists of CIMIC staff officers, one from SHAPE and three from the J(F)C HQs. In addition, subject matter experts can be called upon when needed. The WG meets every second month. A training-and-education Sub-WG was also formed to support the introduction of the CECIL system.

Output of CECIL WG

The working group developed a set of tools for CIMIC reporting, including a situation report, tracking system, and standardized commander's update.

The CIMIC reporting system has been utilized by ISAF CJ9 and JFC Brunssum J9 on a weekly basis since February 2007. It is being progressively introduced to regional commands. This subject was addressed in the new CIMIC staff officer's course at NATO School in Oberammergau, Germany.

Summary

"This CECIL-tool is ideal for the CIMIC branches to manage their information which assists to stabilize the mission area. Information sharing through one database is essential for civilian and military partners."^{[This quote needs a citation]} CECIL is designed to focus on the most important issues. The Afghan Country Stability Picture gives operators at all levels the relevant facts in an efficient and convenient package.

The output of the working group so far is quite promising. The working group will be mandated for another year to continue working on the new established CIMIC information-sharing platform.

Additional information

CIMIC

Civil-military cooperation (CIMIC) refers to the interaction between NATO-led forces and civil actors in alliance-led operations.

Civil Military Overview / Civil Military Fusion Centre

The Civil Military Overview (CMO) is an experimental portal supported by a dedicated information and knowledge management organization, the Civil Military Fusion Centre (CFC). Both are part of a development effort conducted by NATO Allied Command Transformation in consultation with various civil organizations. It is designed to improve interaction between civil and military actors. Through the CMO, NATO and its partners are exploring innovative ways to collect and disseminate all relevant civil and military information on Crisis Response Operations in order to begin creating a shared sense of situational awareness among the global community.

CECIL

The CECIL Working Group was formed to improve CIMIC reporting. CECIL (Coordinated, Effect Based, CIMIC Information Link) aims to assist NATO CIMIC staff with contemporary challenges. The platform enables sharing of CIMIC knowledge to aid staff at all levels.

ACSP

The Afghanistan Country Stability Picture (ACSP) project is an initiative led by NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to develop and maintain a comprehensive geographic database of reconstruction and development activities across Afghanistan. ACSP holds information about different Afghan national development strategy sectors such as education, good governance, health, agriculture and rural development, infrastructure and natural resources, private sector development, security, and social protection. The data held in the ACSP comes from several sources: the Government of Afghanistan (GOA), Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT), and international, governmental and non-governmental organizations (NGO). To provide efficient access to the ACSP data, NATO C3 agency developed a web map service. The ACSP web site can be used to consult and query the ACSP database over the internet. NATO, NGOs and the GOA can use it for optimization and monitoring of reconstruction efforts.

Abbreviations

• ACOS: Assistant Chief of Staff
• ACSP: Afghan Country Stability Picture
• CIMIC: Civil Military Cooperation
• ISAF: International Security Assistance Force (Afghanistan)
• J9: CIMIC division in a Joint HQ
• JC: Joint Command
• JFC: Joint Force Command
• SHAPE: Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe

See also

• Civil-military operations
• Peace Support Training Centre