U.S. Army Learns From Cape May, and Vice-Versa

CAPE MAY – The U.S. Army 404th Civil Affairs Battalion concludes a six-day training event Nov. 8 at 10:30 a.m. in Township Hall. Major Ben Kenion will share with Mayor Edward Mahaney and council the findings of their information gathering exercise. The soldiers, out of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, have been practicing their skills in preparation for real world missions overseas.
Three months ago, Mahaney was approached by the Army to conduct training in the city. Mahaney said the benefits to the city made the decision to host the Civil Affairs Battalion an easy one. “It gives us a true feeling that we’re cooperating with the military who have given us the freedoms we enjoy every day in the city, and it strengthens our relationship with the military,” said Mahaney during council’s work session on Nov. 4. “We’re very proud to do this.”
Civil Affairs was started in 1877 by Gen. Winfield Scott as a way to mediate conflicts between civilians and members of the military. Today, Civil Affairs has nearly 13,000 soldiers in 30 states and Puerto Rico and makes up 7 percent of the Army Reserve strength.
Kenion said there are five pillars to Civil Affairs’ duties: Populace and Resource Control, Foreign Humanitarian Assistance, Nation Assistance, Support to Civil Administration, and Civil Information Management, which is the focus of their training in Cape May. This last branch helps soldiers build a rapport within the communities through partnership and trust.
“Civil Affairs is a bridge between a commander and a country or a society that we’re working with,” explained Kenion. “We learn from you. Our soldiers may learn something about fisheries when they’re going out, or marinas, and that will directly help them when they go to another country where there are fisheries or marinas, desalination plants, a zoo.”
These “citizen soldiers” come from all walks of life. Kenion is an occupational therapist. “We also have veterinarians, we have lawyers,” said Kenion. “So each unit has a lot to offer everywhere we go.”
The five companies of Alpha Team, each consisting of 25-30 soldiers, have been tasked with gathering information from local businesses, government, hospitals, churches and parks, just to name a few. The exercise helps to prepare the soldiers by allowing them to practice talking to people and teaching them to ask the right questions, in the right way.
“Some of the soldiers are just out of college. They’ve never spoken to a mayor before or a city councilman. So this is a good opportunity for them to practice,” said Kenion.
Deputy Mayor William Murray said, in his experience, the presence of the Army in some countries can be seen as an intrusion, and he asked Kenion how Civil Affairs soldiers navigate that roadblock. To that, Kenion reiterated Civil Affairs’ role in mediating conflicts between the public and the military. “If we can work with them and we follow through on the things they need, they’ll trust us more and they’ll be more apt to work with us and solve the issues they have before they become violent issues,” said Kenion.
To contact Kirby Reed, email kreed@cmcherald.com.