A civilian is someone who is not a member of the military or any other fighting group. Civilians are the opposite of soldiers and combatants, and they have their own special protections under international law during wars.
There are many different types of civilians, including doctors, teachers, and police officers. Civilians are the backbone of our society, providing essential services and protecting us from harm. They are often overlooked, and they need our support.
Civilians are also known as “citizens,” a word that reflects their status in the community, and it is sometimes used to describe people who are not formally affiliated with an organization such as a military or political party. People who are not citizens may still contribute to the community in other ways, and they should be treated fairly regardless of their citizenship status.
The definition of civilian in international humanitarian law is “persons who are not members of the armed forces”. This distinguishes them from non-combatants, which include those who are not civilians but support the war effort (for example, military chaplains) or are serving with a neutral country. Civilians have certain privileges during armed conflicts, depending on whether the conflict is an internal one or an international one.
Some people think that the term civilian is outdated and should be replaced with the term “non-military,” but the reality is that it has a very specific meaning in both the legal and cultural sense. A person who is a civilian does not serve in the military, and they must obey the laws of their country. This means that they cannot be forced to fight, and they can not be jailed or charged with a crime if they refuse to comply with orders from their chain of command.
In the modern world, civilians are more numerous than ever before. This is partly because of technological advances, which allow people to perform jobs that were once done only by military personnel. For example, drones can be flown by almost anyone with the right training, so the role of a drone operator is no longer exclusively a military position.
As a result, there is a growing debate over the value of civilian control over the military. Many people wonder whether the military has a professional responsibility to oppose civilian policy guidance that it considers unwise in its own professional judgment. This phenomenon is evident in the current controversy surrounding President Trump’s Secretary of Defense, General James Mattis, who has been accused of violating professional military etiquette by declining to comment on civilian policies that he disagrees with.