text: Civil Affairs Branch Overview
  together in formal and informal ways to achieve common objectives. Early integration of CA forces into
  plans, operations and campaigns is critical to freedom of action, reduces operational friction, and enables
  unified action at the onset of military operations.
  CIVIL AFFAIRS FORCES ARE CRITICAL AND ADAPTIVE THINKERS
  1-48. CA forces are self-directed, self-disciplined, self-monitored, and self-correcting in their ability to apply
  the elements of thought (and the Army’s problem-solving process) to the topics, situations, problems, and
  opportunities they encounter. When confronted by unanticipated circumstances during the execution of a
  planned military operation or event, they can make adjustments within the context of the plan to either exploit
  the advantage or minimize the impact.