A civilian is a person who is not a member of an armed force. It is illegal under the laws of armed conflict to target civilians. Civilians must be protected and provided for during times of war, along with numerous other considerations. If a civilian becomes involved in hostilities, they are considered an unlawful combatant and temporarily lose their protection from attack.
The military and intelligence community spend a lot of time on understanding the enemy and how to kill them, but not so much on understanding civilians and how to protect them. The new policy seeks to change that by leveraging new technology to better characterize civilian environments and inform military decision-making.
As a result of this, it will be possible to more accurately predict the impact of military action on civilian populations before committing to an engagement. This will not prevent the need to use force, but it will make those engagements more targeted and less likely to cause harm.
This is a major change to military policy and a sign of the importance that the administration places on protecting civilians from the consequences of armed conflict. The United Nations recently released a report on the issue, noting that civilians account for over half of all deaths in armed conflict. The report also highlights the significant contribution of armed conflict to humanitarian challenges such as displacement, malnutrition and lack of access to basic services.
Another important aspect of the new policy is limiting who conducts civilian harm assessments. This is a critical shift from the previous policy, which allowed investigations to be conducted by the unit that was involved in the incident. The new policy requires a certified civilian harm assessment cell that is independent of the unit in question. This will ensure that investigators are not biased and that all relevant information is taken into consideration.
Finally, the policy outlines clearer rules for how to assess whether a military action has caused civilian harm. This includes a definition of civilian harm that goes beyond a person’s physical wellbeing to include things like loss of property and emotional trauma. It also makes clear that the burden of proof is on the government to show that an attack was lawful and proportionate.
One of the biggest challenges for transitioning service members is readjusting to civilian life. Many people who are not familiar with the military will have a hard time connecting to your experiences, so it’s important to try and find a group of civilians who understand what you have been through. It is also a good idea to keep in mind that it may take some time for those relationships to develop. Also, remember that it is normal to miss your crew once you leave the military. Take the time to focus on those close relationships as you adjust to your new normal. The more you put into those connections, the stronger they will become. You will be able to draw strength from them when you need it most.