Civilian is the term for people who are not members of a country’s armed forces. This includes citizens who have not been called to duty or mobilized for military service and those who are not engaged in hostilities, including those whose jobs involve supporting war efforts abroad. Civilians are a vital part of the national workforce, and they provide valuable skills and expertise to many different areas in the economy. In addition, civilians play important roles in a nation’s security.
When referring to employment status, the Bureau of Labor Statistics defines a civilian as anyone 16 years old or older who works in any kind of job, whether paid or unpaid. Civilian labor statistics are based on an individual’s participation in the workforce, as measured by his or her reported activity with a state unemployment agency. It also takes into consideration the person’s age, education level and where he or she lives. Because professionals who have retired from their work positions are no longer actively seeking jobs, the BLS omits them from the civilian workforce calculation.
A civilian’s work is a major factor in his or her eligibility for certain benefits, such as health insurance and retirement savings accounts. However, many other factors are also considered, and the decision to make a career in the military or a civilian job can have significant implications for the individual’s life.
For example, entering the military usually requires a multi-year commitment and can involve a lot of travel, both domestically and internationally. These factors can impact the ability of a service member to maintain a stable home base for his or her family. Additionally, a civilian career may not provide the same comprehensive benefit packages as the military.
When transitioning from the military to civilian life, it’s important to find a community that supports you. Finding a group that has similar experiences can be comforting and can help you forge new friendships. This can be especially challenging when returning home from a war zone, where your crew was like a second family.
Civilian life can be more flexible and less structured than the military, though there are still structures in place that may influence day-to-day activities. In terms of personal care, it’s common for civilians to spend more time and money on their grooming and appearance, such as shampoo, makeup and haircuts. Civilian life can also mean a shift from military-issued uniforms to more casual attire.
In the context of international humanitarian law, a civilian is defined as any person who does not belong to the belligerent party in an armed conflict and does not directly participate in hostilities (API Arts. 45.1 and 51.3). It is also important to remember that civilians are protected by international humanitarian law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, regardless of the nature of the conflict. This protection extends to the population of occupied territories as well as those who have been evacuated or interned. It is important to recognize that violence inflicted against civilians can have the effect of undermining the whole architecture for protecting civilians in armed conflict.