MOS 38B—Civil Affairs Specialist

Qualifications for initial award of MOS 38B, Civil Affairs Specialist:

PULHES: 111221
Physical Demands Rating: moderately heavy
Required ASVAB Score: ST: 96
Enlistment Bonus: None
Security Clearance: Secret
U.S. Citizenship: Required
AIT Length / Location: 41 weeks at Ft Bragg, North Carolina
Other Requirements

Civil Affairs Specialist (MOS 38B) Description / Major Duties:

Civil Affairs (CA) specialist supervises, coordinates, conducts, and participates in analysis, planning, and production of CA related documents and actions encompassing both strategic and tactical Civil Affairs Operations (CAO) and Civil-Military Operations (CMO) for Army, joint, and combined military commands.

Duties for MOS 38B at each skill level are:

MOSC 38B1O. (Reserves Only). Trains and maintains proficiency in all major duties. Maintains and operates various voice and data communication devices. Operates automated data processing equipment and various computer programs. Assist in the conduct of assessments, coordination, analysis, production and process of civil affairs related products for Area of Operations (AO) and actions supporting the conduct of CAO and CMO.

MOSC 38B2O. (Reserves Only). Supervises and performs all duties of preceding skill level. Coordinates resources required to support Civil Affairs Teams (CATs). Coordinates and participates in assessments. Assist in evaluating analyzing and production of CA area studies and CMO estimates. Assist in conducting liaison and coordinates with representatives of U.S. Government/Department of Defense (DoD) agencies and other agencies/organizations. Reports on actions required to support the conduct of CAO and CMO.

MOSC 38B3O. Supervises and performs all duties of preceding skill levels. Assesses and determines the capabilities and effectiveness of Foreign Nation (FN)/Host Nation (HN) government functions systems (governance; public health & welfare; infrastructure; rule of law; economic stability; and public education and information) and the impact of these functions on CAO and CMO. Advises, facilitates, and assists in restoring, establishing or organizing government functions as directed. Coordinate resources to support CAO and CMO. Assesses and determines the impact of military operations on FN/HN government functions. Supervises, coordinates, and participates in evaluating, analyzing, planning and production of CA area studies and CMO estimates. Conducts liaison and coordinates with representatives of USG/DoD agencies and other agencies/organizations. Supervise actions supporting the conduct of CAO and CMO.

MOSC 38B40. Supervises and performs all duties of preceding skill levels. Assesses and determines the capabilities and effectiveness of Foreign Nation (FN)/Host Nation (HN) government functions systems (governance; public health & welfare; infrastructure; rule of law; economic stability; and public education and information) and the impact of these functions on CAO and CMO. Advises, facilitates, and assists in restoring, establishing or organizing government functions as directed. Coordinate resources to support CAO and CMO. Assesses and determines the impact of military operations on FN/HN government functions. Supervises, coordinates, and participates in evaluating, analyzing, planning and production of CA area studies and CMO estimates. Conducts liaison and coordinates with representatives of USG/DoD agencies and other agencies/organizations. Supervise actions supporting the conduct of CAO and CMO.

MOSC 38B50. Supervises and performs all duties of preceding skill levels. Assist commanders and staff officers in planning, organizing, directing, supervising, training, and coordinating activities for CMO at all levels of command. Perform CAO and CMO planning at echelons of Division and above.

Other Requirements for Award of MOS 38B:

(1) No derogatory or adverse information in Provost Marshall, intelligence, OMPF or medical records which would prevent the granting of a security access under the provisions of AR 380-67.


(2) No records of conviction by a court-martial or disciplinary action under UCMJ (waiverable under the written approval of the proponent, CG, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (AOJK-SP).


(3) No record of conviction by a civil court for any offense other than minor traffic violations. Waiverable under the written approval of the proponent, CG, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (AOJK-SP).


(4) Active Army additional qualifications.
(a) Soldiers must be in the rank of SGT with a minimum of 60 months of Active Federal Service waiverable to 24 months with the written approval of the proponent CG, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (AOKJ-SP) or be in the rank of SSG.
(b) Soldiers must complete airborne training (if not already qualified).
(c) By exception award of MOS 38B to Soldiers in the rank of SSG (P) or SFC is authorized only with the written approval of the proponent, CG, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (AOJK-SP), in accordance with AR 614-200.
(d) Active component Soldiers must have a qualifying score on the Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB) as prescribed by AR 11-6. A qualifying DLAB score is not required for Reserve Component Soldiers’ for initial award of MOS.


(5) Army Reserves additional qualifications:
(a) USAR Soldiers reclassifying into MOS 38B are restricted to the rank of SSG and below, in accordance with AR 140-158.
(b) By exception, award of MOS 38B to USAR Soldiers in the ranks of SSG(P) or SFC is authorized only with written approval of the proponent, CG, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (AOJK-SP), in accordance with AR 140-158.


(6) Formal training mandatory:
(a) Active Army Soldiers must attend and successfully complete MOS training and the Special Operations Language Training (SOLT) (unless current DLPT language qualified) conducted under the auspices of the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School; Soldiers must complete airborne school (if not already qualified).
(b) Active Army Soldiers who are not BNCOC or ANCOC qualified will attend BNCOC and ANCOC under the auspices of the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.
(c) USAR initial entry (Soldiers must complete BCT and MOS 38B AIT conducted under the auspices of the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.
(d) USAR Soldiers reclassifying into CMF 38 must complete MOS reclassification training conducted by one of the Army Reserve CA/PO TASS Battalions or courses conducted under the auspices of the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.

Additional Skill Identifiers for MOS 38B:

W1—Special Operations Combat Medic.
W2—Civil Affairs Medical SGT.
W4—Civil Affairs Trauma Medical SGT.

Article Last Modified: February 21, 2011

Return to: Civil Affairs MOS List or the top level Army Jobs / MOS List