Civil-military operations

File:IraqiVillage.jpg

Iraqi farmers stand outside a rural school while a U.S. Army Civil Affairs team evaluates it for possible reconstruction funds (near Baghdad, April 2005).

Civil-military operations or CMO are activities of a military force to minimize civil interference on and maximize civil support for military operations. CMO is conducted in conjunction with combat operations during wartime and becomes a central part of a military campaign in counter-insurgencies. Some militaries have specialized units dedicated to conduct CMO, such as civil affairs forces or form task forces specifically for this purposes, such as a joint civil-military operations task force in the U.S. Military. Also, some militaries have staff sections dedicated to planning and coordinating CMO for their command. CMO is often called civil-military co-operation or CIMIC in NATO operations and civil-military co-ordination in UN operations.

Official definitions

The Canadian Military defines CMO as: Template:Quote

The U.S. Military defines CMO as: Template:Quote

See also

• Civilian Irregular Defense Group program (historical)
• Paramilitary