A civilian is a person who does not belong to the armed forces of a belligerent party during an armed conflict. Civilians are entitled to certain privileges under international law, including the right not to be targeted by military attacks. Civilians can also have rights that differ from those of combatants depending on whether a war is an internal or an international one.
The term comes from the French word civil, and was originally used to describe the code of law that applied outside of military courts. It became a noun in the early 19th century, and soon came to mean non-military people. Today, civilians are those who do not serve in the military, and they may work in a wide variety of jobs.
Civilians are a diverse group with many different backgrounds, responsibilities, and views. Their numbers are so large in comparison to those who serve in the military that lumping them together for analytical purposes is often problematic. It is true that civilians can be highly skilled in a range of fields, and they bring a broader perspective to policymaking than their military counterparts.
However, this does not make them more valuable in a military context than their uniformed coworkers. Civilians who have had careers in the government or in law enforcement know how to navigate complex public and private interests, and they understand how to interact with people of varying viewpoints. This is invaluable in a world where distrust of the military and distrust of civilian leaders are commonplace.
When it comes to military-to-civilian transition, the biggest difference is the level of flexibility and autonomy. In a professional setting, some civilians may still adhere to rigid schedules, but they are not subject to the same degree of scrutiny as their military peers. They have more freedom to balance their lives, decide how to dress, and choose when to cut their hair or grow beards. This can be a relief for those who have served in the military, but it is important to remember that it takes time to adjust to this new way of life.
One must also consider that, even though a civilian can be involved in a war, they are not considered a combatant under the rules of international humanitarian law. Civilians are protected from military attack during an armed conflict, unless they take direct part in hostilities, which is prohibited by the two Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions of 1977 regarding international and non-international armed conflicts.
In order to be classified as a civilian, an individual must actively seek employment and report this to their state unemployment agency. This helps the Bureau of Labor Statistics to accurately count the number of citizens in the civilian workforce. However, if someone retires from their job position, they are no longer actively seeking employment and are therefore not included in the statistics. This can cause discrepancies between the civilian workforce statistics and the overall population of the United States.