Army Civilian Corps.In addition to its Officer Corps and Noncommissioned Officer Corps, there is now a new corps in the Army family--the Army Civilian Corps. The establishment of this corps was announced to Army personnel in a 19 June 2006 memorandum signed by General Peter J. Schoomaker, then Chief of Staff of the Army, and Dr. Francis J. Harvey, then Secretary of the Army. (1) In the memorandum, they stated that Army civilians have a 230-year record of service and are extremely critical to the total Army force structure. Army Civilian Corps is a fitting title for this group of people; the name helps unify the Army civilian service and exemplifies the commitment of these dedicated individuals. The memorandum further stated that Army civilians serve in all theaters and are deployed throughout the world in support of the Army's missions, to include the Global War on Terrorism Terrorist acts and the threat of Terrorism have occupied the various law enforcement agencies in the U.S. government for many years. The Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, as amended by the usa patriot act . Not only do they assist with many of the reconstruction projects in Iraq and Afghanistan, but Army civilians are also being recruited to fill other positions to support the war. (2) And here at home, they help train Soldiers for deployment and maintain the facilities while the Soldiers are away, defending our country. As the missions have evolved and become more complex, so have the roles of Army civilians. In addition, the stability and continuity that the civilians provide is invaluable in keeping the Army at a high state of readiness See: defense readiness condition; weapons readiness state. . Like their uniformed counterparts, Army civilians are committed to selfless service in the performance of their duties. This is illustrated in the Army Civilian Corps Creed, (3) which defines the purpose and role of Army civilian employees (see Figure 1). Army Civilian Corps Creation The creation of the Army Civilian Corps resulted from a study conducted from August 2001 through February 2003 by the Army Training and Leadership Development Panel (ATLDP ATLDP Army Training and Leader Development Panel ). (4) Through this study (which involved 40,000 civilians, using written and online surveys, focus-group sessions, and personal interviews), the panel of senior civilian and military subject matter experts were able to determine the needs and concerns of Army civilians. One thing that the study revealed was that Army civilians were not being adequately trained for leadership roles. "The Army grows and develops the best Soldiers in the world--and trains them to be leaders. However, growing Army civilian leaders has fallen short of that requirement." (5) As the Army transforms, the reliance on the civilian workforce will increase. Army civilian leaders of the 21st century must be well-trained so they can support our Soldiers to their fullest potential. They must be pentathlete pen·tath·lete n. Sports An athlete who participates in a pentathlon. Noun 1. pentathlete - an athlete who competes in a pentathlon athlete, jock - a person trained to compete in sports leaders--multiskilled strategic and creative thinkers who can build leaders and teams. Figure 2 shows the skills and attributes (6) needed to become pentathlete civilian leaders who personify per·son·i·fy tr.v. per·son·i·fied, per·son·i·fy·ing, per·son·i·fies 1. To think of or represent (an inanimate object or abstraction) as having personality or the qualities, thoughts, or movements of a living being: the Warrior Ethos in all aspects, from warfighting support, to statesmanship, to business management. (7) Civilian Education System The ATLDP recommended four "imperatives" designed to help develop Army civilians and grow leaders: accountability, lifelong learning Lifelong learning is the concept that "It's never too soon or too late for learning", a philosophy that has taken root in a whole host of different organisations. Lifelong learning is attitudinal; that one can and should be open to new ideas, decisions, skills or behaviors. , interpersonal skills "Interpersonal skills" refers to mental and communicative algorithms applied during social communications and interactions in order to reach certain effects or results. The term "interpersonal skills" is used often in business contexts to refer to the measure of a person's ability , and Army culture. (8) "Like their uniformed counterparts, Army civilians must be well-developed, motivated, and forward-thinking to meet the challenges of the 21st century." (9) They "require a leader development education structure parallel to that of their uniformed counterparts." (10) [FIGURE 2 OMITTED] Toward that end, a new Civilian Education System (CES) is being developed and staffed with the major commands. Phase 1 began in January 2007; additional phases will begin as the CES program develops. (11) The CES plan includes four courses that are sequential and progressive: (12) * Foundation Course (FC). This course is for civilians entering the Army with various levels of previous experience. It is entirely distributed learning Distributed Learning means a method of instruction that relies primarily on indirect communication between students and teachers, including internet or other electronic-based delivery, teleconferencing or correspondence; (British Columbia, School Act, 2006). (dL). Students will learn to understand and appreciate Army values and customs, serve professionally as a member of the Department of the Army, acquire foundation competencies for leader development, develop effective communication skills, and be ready to assume a first leadership role. * Basic Course (BC). This course is for leaders who exercise direct leadership to effectively lead a team. It will be a combination of dL and a 2-week resident phase at the Army Management Staff College (AMSC AMSC Army Management Staff College AMSC American Mobile Satellite Corporation AMSC American Miniature Schnauzer Club AMSC Area Maritime Security Committee AMSC Acquisition Method Suffix Code AMSC Advanced Missile Signature Center ) Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, campus. Students will understand and apply basic leadership skills to effectively lead and care for small teams, apply effective communication skills, and develop and mentor subordinates. * Intermediate Course (IC). This course is for leaders who exercise direct and indirect supervision. It is a combination of dL and a 3-week resident phase at either the AMSC Fort Leavenworth or Fort Belvoir, Virginia, campus. Students learn skills to manage human and financial resources, direct program management and systems integration, display flexibility and resilience, and focus on the mission. * Advanced Course (AC). This course is for leaders who exercise predominately indirect supervision. It is a combination of dL and a 4-week resident phase at the AMSC Fort Belvoir campus. Students become skilled in leading a complex organization, managing human and financial resources, leading change, inspiring vision and creativity, directing program management and systems integration, displaying flexibility and resilience, and focusing on the mission. Legacy leader development courses such as Leadership Education and Development (LEAD), Leadership Education and Development Train the Trainer (LEAD TTT "Thought that too." See digispeak. ), Organizational Leadership for Executives (OLE), Personnel Management for Executives (PME PME Petites et Moyennes Entreprises PME Professional Military Education PME Pequenas e Médias Empresas (Portugal) PME Petite et Moyenne Entreprise PME Psychology of Mathematics Education PME Pi Mu Epsilon ) I and II, Strategic Leadership Education (SLE SLE systemic lupus erythematosus. SLE abbr. systemic lupus erythematosus Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) ), and Sustaining Base Leadership and Management (SBLM SBLM Sustaining Base Leadership and Management SBLM School of Building and Land Management ) have been phased out and will be replaced by, or incorporated into, the four CES courses. (13) Information on dates and location of the classes will be posted on the AMSC website at <http://www.amsc.belvoir.army.mil/ces/> and in the Civilian Leader Development Transformation Community on Army Knowledge Online (AKO Ako (äkō`), city (1990 pop. 51,131), Hyogo prefecture, W Honshu, Japan, on the Harima Sea. Relying on its steel and chemical industries, Ako has become one of Japan's most polluted industrial cities. ). (14) Another result of the panel was the November 2004 establishment of the Civilian Advisory Board. (15) The purpose of this board is to-- * Provide the Chief of Staff, Army, and his staff with professional advice and assistance in matters pertaining to the civilian work force. * Serve as a representative and advocate for Army civilians in matters raised to the Chief of Staff, Army. * Strengthen the bonds between uniformed and civilian members of the Army. * Highlight the importance of keeping Army civilian workforce issues integrated into the Army planning process. Advance training and leader development to the forefront of Army priorities. Conclusion According to former Chief of Staff of the Army Schoomaker and former Secretary of the Army Harvey, Army civilian employees of yesterday, today, and tomorrow are--and will remain--an integral part of the Army team. They have earned this distinction because of their vital service to the Nation and the Army. (16) To support our Soldiers as they carry out the Army's missions, the Army Civilian Corps, too, must be Army Strong. Ms. Gan is the lead editor for the Publications Production Division, Directorate of Training and Leader Development, United States Army United States Army Major branch of the U.S. military forces, charged with preserving peace and security and defending the nation. The first regular U.S. fighting force, the Continental Army, was organized by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, to supplement local Engineer School, Fort Leonard Wood Fort Leonard Wood, U.S. army post, 71,000 acres (28,700 hectares), S central Mo.; est. 1940. It is one of the largest basic-training centers in the United States and also provides training for army engineers. , Missouri. Her previous experience includes sixteen years working in civilian personnel. She is a graduate of Southwest Missouri State University Missouri State University is a state university located in Springfield, Missouri. It is the state's second largest university in student enrollment, second only to the University of Missouri. From 1972 to 2005, Missouri State was known as Southwest Missouri State University. (now Missouri State University), Springfield, Missouri. Endnotes (1) Department of the Army Memorandum, "The Army Civilian Corps," 19 June 2006, <www.cpol.army.mil>, under Top Army Initiatives, Army Civilian Corps Established, click on Memo, accessed on 14 February 2007. (2) Army Civilian Personnel Online (CPOL), "Support the Global War on Terrorism," <www.cpol.army.mil>, click on Employment then Global War on Terrorism, accessed on 14 February 2007. (3) Army CPOL, "Army Civilian Corps Creed," <http://cpol.army.mil/library/general/acccreed.html>, accessed on 14 February 2007. (4) "The Army Training and Leader Development Panel Report, Phase IV (Civilian Study)," 24 February 2003, <http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/army/atld-panel/civ_report.pdf>, accessed on 14 February 2007. (5) Ibid. (6) Secretary of the Army, speech given at the Association of the United States Army The Association of the United States Army (AUSA) is a private, non-profit organization which primarily acts as an advocacy group for the United States Army. Founded in 1950, it has 125 chapters worldwide. convention, Washington, D.C., 9 October 2006. (7) DAMO-TR Message, "Change 1: Emphasize Importance of Civilian Education System Course Enrollment," 16 January 2007. (8) The ATLDP Report. (9) John Plifka, "Civilian Education System Leader Development Program (CES LDP LDP - Linux Documentation Project )," AMSC News, Volume 1, Issue 1, 17 November 2006, page 7. (10) Ibid. (11) DAMO-TR, "Civilian Education System Policy," memorandum, 22 November 2006. (12) Army Management Staff College, "Civilian Education System--Transforming Leaders Through Education," <http://www.amsc.belvoir.army.mil/ces/>, accessed on 14 February 2007. (13) Department of the Army (Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1), "Transforming Civilian Leader Development," memorandum, 26 May 2006. (14) AKO Civilian Leader Development Transformation Community. At the AKO homepage, choose the Site Map tab, then Army Organizations, then Operations (view related content), which will give you a pull-down menu. Choose Pages and Groups, which will give you another pull-down menu. Choose Leader Development (view related content), which will give you a pull-down menu. Choose Pages and Groups, which will give you another pull-down menu, then choose Civilian Leader Development, accessed on 16 February 2007. (15) Department of the Army, "Civilian Advisory Board (CAB)," memorandum, 14 December 2004. (16) Department of the Army Memorandum, 19 June 2006. References Army Civilian Corps Handbook (2006), <http://www.pba.army.mil/Right%20Column/handbook%202.pdf>, accessed on 27 February 2007. Department of the Army (Deputy Chief of Staff G-3/5/7), "Army Civilian Education System Policy," November 2006. Manpower and Force Management (CP 26), Army Civilian Education System, Policy, November 2006, <http://www.cp26.army.mil/training/ces.cfm>, accessed on 14 February 2007. Field Manual 6-22, Army Leadership, 12 October 2006. Andricka Hammonds, "Army Civilian Corps Established," Army News Service, 12 July 2006. Bob Brewin, "Army Secretary Encourages Job Shifts," 18 September 2006. By Ms. Karin Gan RELATED ARTICLE: Personal Observations Growing up as an "Army brat," I learned from my father a deep respect for my country, the American Flag, and the United States Army. I began my civil service career straight out of high school as a Federal Junior Fellow, GS-2, in the Civilian Personnel Office at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. During the time I was completing my college degree, I was very lucky to have supervisors and mentors in the Civilian Personnel Office who personified and enforced in me the importance of my responsibilities as an Army civilian and of giving 100 percent while performing quality work. The Army Civilian Corps Creed should be a reminder to civilian employees that our purpose is to serve and support--our country, our Army, and our Soldiers. We made that choice when we decided to work in the public sector rather than in the private sector. And we are truly fortunate to have that opportunity. Take a moment to study the creed. Most will find that not only do we practice these beliefs, we also understand and support them. Although there will always be some Army civilians who fail to live up to their commitment and, as a result, cause all of us to be viewed negatively by some Soldiers, they are far outnumbered by the many who strive to support the Army's mission and to protect our country and our Constitution. Most of us take pride in being part of the Army Civilian Corps and look forward to transforming with this great Army team. Army Civilian Corps Creed * I am an Army Civilian--a member of the Army Team * I am dedicated to our Army, our Soldiers, and Civilians * I will always support the mission * I provide stability and continuity during war and peace * I support and defend the Constitution of the United States ands consider it an honor to serve our Nation and our Army * I live the Army values of Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfess Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage * I am an Army Civilian Figure 1 |
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