The document summarizes a briefing given to soldiers of the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade on 10 December 2010 at Fort Bragg. It discusses recent growth in the Civil Affairs community with a new brigade and battalion, changes to standards and screening of applicants, and an overview of curriculum at the NCO academy. It recognizes soldiers who helped with a program for children of deployed military families and those who won the brigade football championship.

1. 95th CA Bde (A) State of Civil Affairs Briefings Hosking Gymnasium, Fort Bragg 10 Dec 2010 U.S. Army Photos by 95th CA Bde PAO Leslie Ozawa and SPC Carlos Crouch

2. 95thCivil Affairs Brigade’s Command Sgt. Maj. Wall briefs the brigade Soldiers about recent changes taking place in the Army Civil Affairs community (growth with a new brigade and battalion standing up at Fort Hood, TX).

3. Brigade Commander Col. Wolff announces the distribution of 95th CA Bde (A)’s Standards and Discipline Blue Book.

4. Master Sgt. Borton of CA proponency at Special Warfare Center and School emphasizes the high standards of conduct and personal appearance required of CA Soldiers.

5. Master Sgt. Starbuck explains the Civil Affairs Assessment and Selection Team’s rigorous process used to screen CA applicants and track selectees performance through SWCS civil affairs course and their initial assignments. The process includes initial records screening, CA assessment and selection, CA qualification course, language aptitude,and initial assignment.

6. Sgt. 1st Class Emery gives overview of the curriculum of new NCO Academy’s SOF-specific course for Civil Affairs, Military Information Support Operations and Special Forces senior NCOs at Fort Bragg’s NCO Academy.

7. 95th CA Bde Equal Opportunity Advisor Master Sgt. Rizzotostresses how cultural diversity adds to the Army’s core values and strengthens the Army and the brigade as a military force. The Brigade’s MAVNI (Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest) Soldiers have language skills and the cultural backgrounds that would take years to learn and experience.

8. 95th CA Bde MAVNI Soldiers relate their country of origin, their language skills and their civilian and military education and experience. In 2009, DoD authorized recruitment of certain legal aliens with skills vital to the national interest--physicians, nurses, and certain experts in language with associated cultural backgrounds.

9. 95th CA Bde CSM Wall congratulates several Brigade Soldiers for their outstanding work in August, at Camp Rockfish’s Operation Purple, to help children of Military Families cope with deployed parents. CSM Wall cited this as an example of CA Soldiers getting involved in helping local communities.

10. In appreciation for their outstanding work in fostering community relations during Operation Purple’s Military Day at Camp Rockfish, Spc. Howell, Sgt. 1st Class Domonic Phillips and Sgt. Holt (from left) are presented commemorative coins by Basil Catanzaro, secretary of Friends of Civil Affairs at Fort Bragg.

11. 91th CABn football team captain tells how his team won the brigade championship at the annual Turkey Bowl on Nov. 24.

12. 91st CABn Team captain is presented the championship trophy for the annual turkey Bowl football game.

13. 95th CA BDE CDR COL Wolff congratulates NCO of the Quarter Sgt. Gomez of the 96th CA Bn and HHC’s Spec. Onyango. The two Soldiers also received gift certificates and a knife commemorating their selection from FOCA secretary Basil Catanzaro.