Civil-Military Operations (CMO)
The activities of a commander, performed by designated civil affairs or other military forces, that establish, maintain, influence, or exploit relationships between military forces and indigenous populations and institutions, by directly supporting the attainment of objectives relating to the reestablishment or maintenance of stability within a region or host nation.
Civil Affairs Operations (CAO)
Consists of the following core competencies and their nested functions:
-
Civil Affairs Activities; civil reconnaissance, civil engagement, civil-information management (CIM), civil-military operations center (CMOC), CMO planning.
-
Military government operations; transitional military authority, support to civil administration (SCA).
-
Civil Affairs supported activities; foreign assistance, foreign humanitarian assistance (FHA), populace and resources control (PRC), civil-military engagement.
MCCMOS is the Proponent for Civil Affairs and serves as the focal agency for CMO education and training issues in order to meet the Marine Corps' CMO education and training requirements. The objectives of MCCMOS include:
-
Integrate CMO in the Marine Corps training and education continuum
-
Provide CMO training and education resources for Operating Forces
-
Execute all Civil Affairs MOS-related training
-
Coordinate CMO training and education with other DoD and interagency organizations
-
Provide outreach to International and Non-governmental Organizations (IO/NGO) for the purpose of CMO training/education
-
Facilitate CMO doctrine development of MCTP 3-03A MAGTF-CMO
-
Facilitate doctrinal development and integration of "Green Cell"
-
Facilitate doctrinal development and integration of Civil Preparation of the Battlespace
-
Conduct the Civil Affairs MOS Courses
-
Conduct the CMO Planner Courses
MCCMOS is located aboard MCB Quantico, VA.
The Civil Affairs MOS Course is a two-phase course: Phase 1 is a one-week, self-paced online course on the Marine Net Moodle platform; Phase 2 is a 4-week resident course in MCB Quantico, VA. This course is open to any MOS. Upon successful completion Officers and Enlisted Marines receive the Civil Affairs MOS (0530, 0531 or 0532). The Marine Corps Civil Affairs 0530 and 0531/0532 Courses are designed as the MOS qualifying course for active duty and reserve Marine Corps Civil Affairs (CA) personnel who will be assigned duties as Civil Affairs specialists and CMO planners/Staff NCOs who will conduct CMO planning and integration of CMO into MAGTF operations and perform a variety of tactical CMO-related tasks, such as area assessments, property control, and project management.
Students attending MCCMOS are not permitted to miss any scheduled training. Failure to adhere to this will result in academic disenrollment.
Marines filling CA/CMO billets have seat priority.
Majors with more than 4 years TIG and above are ineligible to attend the 0530 course.
Travel
Travel to the course must be completed the Sunday Prior to the start date, and return travel must be the Saturday following a course, training will not be abbreviated to meet your travel plans. Please do not schedule return flights prior to 1630 on Friday, the last day of the course.
Billeting
Students not living in the local area are required to secure lodging at Liversedge Hall (Quantico BOQ 703-784-3149). If none is available it is the Marine's responsibility to obtain a certificate of non-availability (CNA). During Phase 2 - Week 4, you are required to check out of your lodging on Monday since you will be in a "field" status. Billeting during Phase 2 - Week 4 (to include those residing in the local area) is in the field. You may secure your personal belongings at the MCCMOS facility.
CA MOS courses for FY23
1-23: Phase 1: 21 - 27 Feb; Phase 2: 6 Mar - 31 Mar
2-23: Phase 1: 3 - 9 Apr; Phase 2: 17 Apr - 12 May
3-23: Phase 1: 24 - 30 July; Phase 2: 7 Aug - 1 Sep
The CMO Planner Course is a two-week Civil Affairs progression course. This course is open to Officers and Enlisted personnel from all services who will conduct CMO planning and integration of CMO into operations throughout the conflict continuum. This course provides the practical and technical skills required for Marine Corps officers and enlisted personnel to succeed as a CMO Planner in support of MAGTF operations. This training is mission oriented, with a maximum use of hands-on CMO doctrinal procedures during practical exercises. Marine graduates receive FMOS 0535 CMO Planner for officers and FMOS 0539 CMO Chief for enlisted.
Course pre-requisites: Majors and SNCOs with the 0530/0531/0532 MOS. No waivers will be permitted for SMCR/IMA Marines. Personnel filling CMO Planner billets have priority.
Students attending MCCMOS are not permitted to miss any scheduled training. Failure to adhere to this will result in academic disenrollment. Please do not schedule return flights prior to 1930 on Friday, the last day of the course.
Billeting
Students in the CMO Planner Course are required to secure lodging at Liversedge Hall (Quantico BOQ 703-784-3149). If none is available it is the Marine's responsibility to obtain a certificate of non-availability (CNA).
There is no gear required for the CMO Planner Course but a laptop and thumb drive is recommended.
CMO Planner Courses for FY23
1-23: 5 - 16 Dec (2022)
2-23: 30 Jan - 10 Feb
3-23: 5 - 16 Jun
4-23: 18 - 29 Sep
The Civil Affairs Integration Course is a new course that introduces Civil Affairs products, processes and capabilities to other planners and information related capabilities to integrate to harmonize effects. There is no MOS awarded upon the completion of this course. Resident courses and MTTs will be determined at a later date.
MCCMOS served as the lead agency organizing and providing the USFOR-A mandated Counter Insurgency Leaders Course. These courses lasted 5 days and remain an off-the-shelf capability that MCCMOS maintains if it becomes a pre-deployment requirement for Battalion Commanders and their staffs again.