353rd Civil Affairs Command

The following section provides a comprehensive narrative of the 353rd Civil Affairs Command, tracing its lineage from the Cold War era to its modern role in global civil-military operations.

The 353rd Civil Affairs Command (CACOM) traces its lineage back to the post-World War II era, originally constituted on January 31, 1952, in the Organized Reserve Corps as the 353rd Military Government Area Headquarters. Activated in New York City, the unit underwent several redesignations, reflecting the Army's evolving doctrine from "Military Government" to "Civil Affairs." Throughout the Cold War, the unit focused on preparing for the governance of occupied territories, eventually transitioning to a broader mission of supporting civil-military operations. Based at Fort Wadsworth in Staten Island, New York, the command has become a premier U.S. Army Reserve headquarters responsible for providing specialized Civil Affairs expertise to combatant commanders.

During the 1990s, the 353rd CACOM became operationally active in the Balkans, supporting peacekeeping missions in Bosnia and Kosovo. This period marked a significant shift from strategic reserve readiness to operational deployment. Personnel from the command were instrumental in restoring essential services, re-establishing local governance, and facilitating humanitarian aid in war-torn regions.

Following the attacks of September 11, 2001, the 353rd CACOM mobilized extensively for the Global War on Terror. The unit deployed elements to support Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan. In Iraq, the 353rd CACOM played a critical role in the Coalition Provisional Authority and later Multi-National Force-Iraq. Simultaneously, the command supported the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), conducting operations to promote stability in East Africa.

Currently, the 353rd Civil Affairs Command is aligned primarily with U.S. European Command (EUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM). It maintains administrative and operational control over subordinate brigades, including the 304th Civil Affairs Brigade (Bristol, PA) and the 308th Civil Affairs Brigade (Homewood, IL). It stands as a critical link between military forces and civilian authorities.