CAMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq -- After several months of preparation in the U.S. and weeks of on-the-job-training here, the 6th Civil Affairs Group took the reigns from the 5th CAG today to continue working towards a secure, self-governing Iraq.
Comprised of mostly Marine and Navy reservists, the 6th CAG will support 2nd Marine Division’s work with the people and government of Al Anbar Province during the next several months of historic “firsts” for the country. As Iraq moves forward to two crucial elections in the next three months, 6th CAG will play a key role in the country’s transition to an independent, self-sustaining country.
“There’s a lot of change ongoing in the region.” the commanding officer of 6th CAG, Col. Paul Brier, said. “But Coalition Forces are here to provide a level of stability, offer guidance and provide tools that will help the Al Anbar people get to a point where they no longer need us.”
The role of civil affairs in Iraq has changed dramatically since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. Throughout most of OIF – like traditional civil-military operations – the responsibility and authority over a project resided with the military unit conducting the contracting.
Now, with the goal of Iraqi self-governance, the civil affairs mission is focused on facilitating the Iraqi governments’ involvement and role in providing sustained services to their people. The mission, Brier said, has transitioned from “doing for the Iraqi people” to helping them “do for themselves.”
To accomplish this, the unit will tap into the diverse skill set and knowledge the civil affairs Marines and Sailors bring from their civilian jobs and their Marine Corps experiences to provide guidance in civil administration, economic development, education, infrastructure restoration, and reconstruction.
The 6th CAG, formed from units across the United States, includes engineers, teachers, lawyers, mechanics, a state-elected official, nurses, a cardiologist, students, a pharmacist, electricians, a plumber, business managers, construction workers, a psychologist, accountants, stock brokers, a farmer, police officers, fire fighters and active duty Marines.
As the only two provisional civil affairs units in the Marine Corps activated specifically to support OIF, both 6th and 5th CAG will be permanently deactivated upon completion of their deployment.