Army Civilians-Army Leadership

ARMY CIVILIAN LEADERS-Excerpt from Army Leadership

The Army civilian corps consists of experienced personnel committed to serving the Nation. Army
civilians are an integral part of the Army team and are members of the executive branch of the federal
government. They fill positions in staff and sustaining base operations that would otherwise be filled by
military personnel. They provide mission-essential capability, stability, and continuity during war and
peace in support of the Soldier. Army civilians take their support mission professionally. Army civilians
are committed to selfless service in the performance of their duties as expressed in the Army Civilian
Corps Creed.

The major roles and responsibilities of Army civilians include establishing and executing policy;
managing Army programs, projects, and systems; and operating activities and facilities for Army
equipment, support, research, and technical work. These roles are in support of the organizational Army as
well as warfighters based around the world. The main differences between military and civilian leaders are
in the provisions of their position, how they obtain their leadership skills, and career development patterns.

Army civilians’ job placement depends on their eligibility to hold the position. Their credentials
reflect the expertise with which they enter a position. Proficiency in that position is from education and
training they have obtained, prior experiences, and career-long ties to special professional fields. Unlike
military personnel, Army civilians do not carry their grade with them regardless of the job they perform.
Civilians hold the grade of the position in which they serve. Except for the Commander in Chief (the
President of the United States) and Secretary of Defense, civilians do not exercise military command;
however, they could be designated to exercise general supervision over an Army installation or activity
under the command of a military superior. Army civilians primarily exercise authority based on the
position held, not their grade.

Civilian personnel do not have career managers like their military counterparts, but there are
functional proponents for career fields that ensure provisions exist for career growth. Army civilians are
free to pursue positions and promotions as they desire. While mobility is not mandatory in all career fields,
there are some (and some grade levels) where mobility agreements are required. Personnel policies
generally state that civilians should be in positions that do not require military personnel for reasons of law,
training, security, discipline, rotation, or combat readiness. While the career civilian workforce brings a
wealth of diversity to the Army team, there is also a wealth of knowledge and experience brought to the
Army’s sustaining base when retired military join the civilian ranks.

While most civilians historically support military forces at home stations, civilians also deploy with
military forces to sustain theater operations. As evidenced by the ever-increasing demands of recent
deployments, civilians have served at every level and in every location, providing expertise and support
Leadership Roles, Leadership Levels and Leadership Teams wherever needed. Army civilians support their military counterparts and often remain for long periods within the same organization or installation, providing continuity and stability that the highly mobile personnel management system used for our military rarely allows. However, when the position or mission dictates, Army civilians may be transferred or deployed to meet the needs of the Army.