text: Civil Affairs Operations
  2-77. Civil networks are developed through capacity-building efforts such as training and advising, or
  through projects aimed at building legitimacy. Formal governmental networks are aided through SCA
  activities and assistance as directed by the command. Building friendly networks facilitates freedom of
  maneuver for U.S. and partner forces. This enables initial contact with potential connecting nodes and
  streamlines transitioning networks between different CA elements. It is critical that the incoming and
  outgoing CA elements update each other on situational understanding and transfer critical civil information
  and knowledge. This prevents duplicate efforts by different CA elements and the misuse of finite resources.
  This passing of contacts must also occur during the transition between competition to conflict, and during
  the rapid movement of CA forces towards the advancing forward line of troops.
  2-78. Inputs to this step include analysis of which civil networks are capable of, willing to, and committed
  to achieving the commander’s stated objectives and creating effects. This also includes a CND or assessment
  plan through which CA forces (in conjunction with unified action partners) assess the civil networks’
  capability, willingness, and commitment to achieve objectives and create effects.
  EVALUATE DEVELOPED CIVIL NETWORKS
  2-79. Before, during, and after development, civil networks must be continuously evaluated based on the
  individual strengths, weaknesses, vulnerabilities, and motivations of the specific networks. Through
  development, civil network capabilities are increased, strengths are enhanced, and weaknesses are mitigated.
  Constant vetting is necessary for measuring and evaluating how and whether the direction and motivations
  of the developed civil network are in tandem with U.S. objectives. Civil networks developed to enable or
  provide governance must be continuously evaluated for appropriateness of action.
  INTEGRATE MOBILIZED CIVIL NETWORKS
  2-80. CA forces integrate established and developed civil networks with operations, thereby the influence of
  a commander into the civil component and assisting in achieving the commander’s operational goals, end
  states, and campaign objectives.
  2-81. CA forces integrate mobilized friendly civil networks to bring collective action, social pressure, or
  political pressure around an area of common interest in support of the commander’s objectives. When
  military forces are required to assist in or execute governance, CA forces integrate and manage established
  civil networks to meet, enable, or enact governance requirements. Established civil networks have
  capabilities and resources that increase governance capacity and efficiency. This allows commanders to
  preserve combat power (rather than expending it conducting TG, for example during civil security) and use
  that combat power to achieve and maintain dominance within the AO.
  2-82. By acting as sensors in the civil environment, friendly networks aid in providing early warning of
  threats and increasing shared understanding of the OE. When CA forces integrate civil networks with
  operations, this enables a commander’s freedom of movement by—
  * Facilitating joint reception, staging, onward movement and integration through civil administration.
  * Preserving combat power.
  * Consolidating gains through the actions of civil security and civil control.
  * Minimizing negative and maximizing positive civil influences.
  2-83. Neutral networks can be influenced to self-mobilize and provide passive support to U.S. presence and
  deny access to threat actors. Mobilized friendly and neutral civil networks are key to denying threat networks
  freedom of maneuver and access to the resources and capabilities of the IPI. Neutral civil networks are
  dependable recruiting bases in the civil environment to gain information on threats to the civil population.
  These mobilized civil networks—in conjunction with (PRC) measures—when integrated into operations by
  CA forces enable the commander to effectively allocate finite resources, create effects, and reduce
  operational friction during all phases of operations and throughout the competition continuum to reach
  mission end states and goals.
  Note: Further discussion of PRC is available in Chapter 3 of this FM.