This is the third and final part of a three-part conversation with CPT Grant Cook discussing Special Operations Forces (SOF) Civil Affairs (CA) Teams and Civil Military Operations Centers (CMOC) conducting training in Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO) across multi-domains at the National training Center (NTC) and across Combat Training Centers (CTCs).

CPT Grant Cook shares his experiences and observations on how best to approach a CTC rotation as a SOF CA professional. Through describing his personal experiences in both training and real-world operations; Grant illuminates how SOF CA is organized, how SOF CA functions operationally on its own and with Special Forces and Psychological Operations, and what SOF CA does for the Joint Force.

CPT Grant Cook recently finished his tour at the National Training Center as the lead Observer Coach / Trainer (OC/T) for Special Operations Forces Civil Affairs. As the lead SOF CA OC/T Grant took part in 6 rotations at the National Training Center and Joint Readiness Training Center coaching and mentoring CA teams, CMOCs, and SF AOB leadership and staff from across US Army Special Operations Command.

This episode covers:

- Differences between SOF CA and conventional CA

- directive 2000.13, directs al commanders to conduct civil affairs

- USASOC authorities 525-38 Civil Military Engagement directive

- Understanding what roles SOF CA and convention CA but recognizing that when you’re the only CA element at the point on the battlefield, you need to able to full either role

- Value of the CTC when it comes to training the human and information dimensions

- SOF CA and SOF PSYOP integration

Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds