CIVIL MILITARY OPERATION

CMO- Encompasses those economic, social, political and psychological activities

undertaken by the AFP. Independent of or in coordination with the civil government units and
non-government organizations prior to during or subsequent to combat operations and/or man-
made disasters or natural calamities.

COMMUNITY- Is the place where people live since birth.

MILITARY AFFAIRS- Target our soldiers and their dependent.

CIVIL RELATIONS- Targets the public or the people living within the community.

PSYCHOLOGICAL OPERATION (PSYOPS) – Targets mainly the enemy either

directly of indirectly through key communications.

WORDS PSYOPS - Dissemination of any information, concept or idea through

media.

DEEDS PSYOPS - Involves the conduct of combat or non combat activities

outside of pure communication activities.

COUNTER PROPAGANDA – Activities response to any enemy propaganda

activities.

LEGAL BASIS OF CIVIL MILITARY OPERATION

All commanders are under the legal obligations imposed by international law, including
the Geneva Conventions of 1949, to provide a minimum standard of humane care and
treatment for all civilians. To establish law and order, and to protect private property in their
geographic area of responsibility.

Civil Military Operations must be conducted in accordance with the laws and agreements
to which the Philippines are a party, including all existing laws of the land.
 INTRODUCTION

People have opinions on other people, o the government and other institutions in order
to gain mission legitimacy for its actions. The Philippine Army seeks to be accepted by the
public on the best possible terms in order for it to attain its mission. This is the basis of Civil
Military Operations. Civil Military Operations is a means of shaping public opinion in favor of our
organization, while most CMO is directed outward at the general public or special segments of
it. Some is also directed toward the soldiers within the organizations.

Civil Military Operations, therefore, are activities undertaken independent of or in

coordination with civilian entitles to gain popular support, to strengthen the will of the soldiers to
fight, and weaken the will of the enemy to resist in support to the accomplishment of military
mission.

It is categorized into Military Affairs, Civil Relations and Psychological Operations

efforts that are differentiated from each other through the audience it targets. Military Affairs
targets our own soldiers and dependents – It is PA personnel oriented while Civil Relations
targets the public or the people living within the community – it is community oriented.
Psychological Operations on the other hand targets mainly the enemy either directly or indirectly
through key communicators.

It is vital components of the TRIAD characterized by activities that strengthens the

commitment and raises the morale of the soldiers: influences the beliefs, emotion, behaviors,
attitudes and opinions of selected target audiences, establish, maintain or exploit relations
between military forces, civil authorities (both government and non-government) and the civilian
populace to facilitate military operations and consolidate military objectives in support to the
accomplishment of the AFP’s mission.

The primary objectives of these activities are to neutralized/destroy the threat groups will
to fight, and gain popular support to AFP. Supporting the government’s development activities,
protecting the environment, and helping the people prepare for and cope with the hard realities
of disasters/calamities are its secondary objectives.

To illustrate these abstract concepts, the CMO Triangle is shown in Figure below
depicting the three categories of CMO with their respective objectives and target audiences.
 ENEMY

Weaken on
will to resist
Psyops

CIVIL MILITARY

OPNS

Strengthen Gain popular

soldier’s will Support Civil
to fight Mil Relations
Afrs
The PA Personnel Public

CMO Triangle concept

CMO VISION

“An Army working harmoniously with communities, government agencies, and non-
government organizations, capable of peacefully neutralizing all threats to national security to
sustain a healthy and productive environment conducive to peace and development.”

In order for the contemporary application of CMO to be more responsive to present-day

scenario, the CMO vision stated above, just like the history of CMO in the Philippines, went
through a long and tedious formative process Various Army’s Commanders. In their desire to
professionalize and upgrade the army’s capability to address the various threats to the country’s
peace and order situation and national security issued numerous guidelines for the holistic
application of CMO in all aspects of army operations.

On December 2000, the office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Operation.
Philippine Army gathered together prominent CMO officers from within the AFP to come up with
a CMO vision that is responsive to the Army’s overall vision and mission. Their output, which
was further validated by CMO practitioners in a CMO family workshop-seminar on the first
quarter of year 2001. Was eventually approved by the Commanding General at that time and
implemented as a general guide for army personnel in the pursuit of their missions.
PRINCIPLES OF CMO

The foundation of army operation is a clear understanding of the Principles of War and
the application of those principles while conducting the operation. The Principles of War are the
enduring bedrock of the army doctrines which are applicable today as centuries ago. They are
mutually dependent but in some cases. One maybe sacrificed to optimize the other Civil Military
Operations also have principles based on the Principles of War but must be supplemented by
those suited for non-combat operations which is basically its nature.

OBJECTIVES

Direct every Civil military Operation towards a clearly defined, decisive and attainable
objectives:

Each separate Civil Military Operations must be integrated with every operation to
contribute to the ultimate strategic aims. Set appropriate objectives and ensure that they
contribute to unity of effort with other agencies. The Objective of Civil Military Operations is to
strengthen the will to fight of its soldiers. Gain popular support and weaken the enemies will to
resist in support to the accomplishment of a military mission. However, adaptations may be
made to suit the objectives of an operational mission.

PILLARS OF CMO

1. CIVIC ACTION (CIVAC)- Activities that contribute to the development of the

community to promote the people’s faith toward the army.

2. COMMUNITY RELATION (COMREL)- Organized participation of army personnel in

community activities to identify the soldiers as a part of the community.

3. PUBLIC INFORMATION (PI)- dissemination of various activities and programs of the

army to broaden the awareness of the people.

4. PSYCHOLOGICAL OPERATION (PSYOP)- Planned military activities purposely

designated to influence the behaviour, emotions, beliefs, attitudes and opinions of
the target audience. This operation is disseminated through WORDS Psyops. (WP)
DEEDS Psyops (DP) and COUNTER PROPAGANDA (CP)

5. REASERCH AND SPECIAL STUDIES (RSS)- Deals with the collections, analysis,
documentation and evaluation of data to enhance effectiveness of CMO.

PROGRAM / ACTIVITIES OF CMO

1. CIVIC ACTION (CIVAC)

a. Medical/Dental
b. Disaster Relief’s Rehabilitation
c. Power generation (Electrification)
d. Health and Sanitation
e. Engineering Projects and construction
 f. Army Literacy Patrol System (ALPS)

2. COMMUNITY RELATION (COMREL)

a. Assistance Extended

1. Communication assistance
2. Transportation Assistance
3. Security Assistance
4. Vigil Assistance
5. Manpower Assistance
6. Financial Assistance
7. Others

b. Community Based Initiative

1. Sports
2. Cultural / Historical events
3. Beautification / cleanliness drives
4. Religious Festivities
5. Cause – Oriented initiative
6. Others

c. Socio – Cultural Activities

1. Band and Combo Shows / Concerts

2. Civic Parades / Cleanliness Honors
3. Cultural Presentations
4. Others

3. PUBLIC INFORMATION

a. Media Activities

1. Broadcast
a. Radio (PR”s/News Releases, etc.)
b. TV (Documentary / Appearance, etc.)

2. Print
-Releases (PR”s News Photo Releases)
 3. Photo Static display
4. Press conference/ Press Briefings
5. Others.
b. Face to Face Communication

1. Dialogue
2. Interviews
3. Pulong-pulong
4. Others
c. Film showing

1. TV
2. MAVU
3. Others
d. Distribution of print Materials

1. Leaflets
2. Brochures
3. Posters
4. Billboards
5. Magazines
6. Streamers
7. Stickers
8. Comics
9. Others

4. PSYCHOLOGICAL OPERATIONS (PSYOPS)

a. Publication/ Dissemination of Propaganda

b. Regular TV/ Radio Organizing or Networking
c. Community Organizing or Networking
d. Selection of Media
e. RSOT / ACCORD
F. NRDP / NAC “BALIK BARIL Program”
g. Media Releases

5. RESEARCH AND SPECIAL STUDIES (RSS)

a. Compiling of prototypes
b. Project Study
c. Collection of Analysis
d. Thesis
e. Position Papers
f. Conduct of Survey
CMO Strategy in ISO

Thrust the CMO directly related to ARMY’s conduct of ISO

- Proper application of CMO tools

- Refocusing of CMO efforts to complement security operation

- Strengthening of community based development efforts.

Threats situation in a target area is the main consideration of this strategy as follows

A. LCM Areas: (By Priority)

1. Priority I- Influence Barangays

2. Priority II- Infiltrated
3. Priority III- Threatened and Cleared

B. SPSG Areas:

1. Influence / Controlled Area

2. Cleared Area

3. Targeted Area
 WRITTEN EXAMINATION

Code number/Name:_________________________Date:__________

Course:___________________________________Score:_________

Single response: Encircle the letter of the correct answer on each question.

1. If encompasses those economical, social, political and psychological activities

undertaken by the AFP.

a. CMO b. CIVAC c. COMREL d. PI

2. The use of military resources predominantly non-military in coordination with the

government agencies and NGO’s.

a. CMO b. CIVAC c. COMREL d. PI

3. The dissemination of various activities and programs of the Army to broaden the
awareness of the people.

a. CIVAC b. COMREL c. PSYOP d. PI

4. Organized participation of Army personnel in community activities.

a. CIVAC b. COMREL c. PSYOP d. PI

5. Planned military activities purposely designed to influence the behaviours, emotions,

beliefs attitudes and opinion of the target audience.

a. CMO b. PSYOP c. CIVAC d PI

6. Deals with the collections, analysis, documentation and evaluation of data to enhance
effectiveness of CMO.

a. COMREL b. PI c. RSS d. PSYOP

7. Induce defection of the masses to the government side and for the armed group to
surrender.

a. Hold b. Clear c. Consolidate d. Develop

8. The populace realize their need for government service and win their support to the
government side.

a. Hold b. Clear c. Consolidate d. Develop

9. A barangay where the armed components of the MILF and the ASG are concentrated
and exercise full control over the residents.

a. Influenced b. Cleared c. Targeted d. Infiltrated

10. Best tool of CMO.

a. Discipline soldier b. Scalawag c. Committed d. Valor

TEST II. TRUE OR FALSE: Write TRUE if the statement is correct and FALSE if the
statement is incorrect on the space provided of each question.

_____1. Best tool of CMO is Discipline soldier.

_____2. Induce defection of the masses to the government side and for the armed
group to surrender and to consolidate.

_____3. Consolidate The populace realize their need for government service and win
their support to the government side.

_____4. CIVAC is The use of military resources predominantly non-military in

coordination with the government agencies and NGO’s.

_____5.PSYOP is to Organized participation of Army personnel in community activities.

_____6. If encompasses those economical, social, political and psychological activities

undertaken by the AFP.

_____7. The dissemination of various activities and programs of the Army to broaden
the awareness of the people.

_____8. A barangay where the armed components of the MILF and the ASG are
concentrated and exercise full control over the residents

_____9. Deals with the collections, analysis, documentation and evaluation of data to
enhance effectiveness of CMO.

_____10. Planned military activities purposely designed to influence the behaviours,

emotions, beliefs attitudes and opinion of the target audience.

****GOODLUCK****
Key answer

Test I.

1.a

2. b

3. d

4. b

5. b

6. c

7.a

8. c

9. a

10. a

Test II.

1. true

2. false

3. true

4. true

5. false

6. true

7. true

8. true

9. true

10. true