Soldiers from the 91st Civil Affairs Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, executed a team-level validation exercise conducted October 20 – 24 2025. This annual training event enhances unit readiness and prepares Soldiers for complex missions worldwide. Following months of individual and collective training, Civil Affairs teams validated their skills in a realistic training scenario, designed to test Soldiers’ skills in a complex and dynamic environment.

Army Special Operations Forces Civil Affairs (ARSOF CA), is a branch of Soldiers specially trained to understand and influence the civil component of the operational environment. Civil Affairs professionals serve as an integral component in providing Commanders with key information about a region’s civilian population, enabling commanders to maintain operational tempo, preserve combat power, and consolidate gains. Capable of operating within the full spectrum of operations, ARSOF CA teams integrate with key populations and organizations to best understand civil networks to support national and theater-level objectives.

During Atlas Lion 26-1, two 4-person teams from Bravo Company of the 91st Civil Affairs Battalion navigated complex scenarios designed to evaluate months of tactical training. From engaging with local nationals to evacuating simulated casualties under hostile conditions, teams worked through multifaceted scenarios in a large-scale combat operations environment to prepare Soldiers for the unforeseen challenges overseas.

“This training environment replicates a large-scale combat operations environment. When we train, we train for the future,” explained Lt. Col. Michael Veglucci, Commander of the 91st Civil Affairs Battalion. “This gets after our core competencies and our Civil Affairs battle drills.”

After a week of validating their CA collective tasks, the 91st Civil Affairs Battalion partnered with Delta Company, 96th Civil Affairs Battalion, to execute a comprehensive tabletop exercise. This exercise leveraged a one-of-a-kind artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) model that enabled leaders to certify their Company in the unit’s critical tasks, a groundbreaking shift in how the Army assesses readiness.

In a first full iteration for the formation, ARSOF CA conducted a company-level certification exercise without using humans as external evaluators. For decades, units relied on observers to monitor training and assess Soldier competencies. Today, that work is being done by AI.

Civil Affairs Soldiers, who typically find themselves engaging with civil populations to solve complex problems, suddenly found themselves interacting with role players and civilian leaders built into the AI model.

In an innovative approach to transform how Soldiers prepare for future conflicts across multiple operational environments, AI is helping standardize training. AI enables commanders to rapidly scale training without proportionally increasing resources. What was once expensive and resource-intensive feat is now being done with the stroke of a keyboard.

“What makes this AI model unique is that it is limitless in complexity and cohesion to give the training audience a valuable and effective training opportunity,” said Moran Keay, CEO and founder of Motive International, who ran the training. “This training provides commanders with an objective assessment of their formation’s ability to execute critical tasks before sending anyone overseas.”

During Atlas Lion, the AI model analyzed tens of thousands of data points using key performance indicators, a task previously impossible for human evaluators. By leveraging thousands of pages of doctrine, documents, and regulations, the model provided an unbiased assessment of the Company’s ability to conduct Civil Affairs tasks critical to mission success.

While some express skepticism about the role of AI in evaluating Soldiers whose primary role is to engage with civilian populations, the Army is adapting, modernizing, and transforming how it trains and certifies its troops.

As the Army continues to identify innovative ways to train and certify formations, Civil Affairs Soldiers are shaping the future of training. Through innovation and forward-thinking leadership, ARSOF CA is not only enhancing their readiness but also setting the standard for how the Army will train and certify its Soldiers to meet the demands of tomorrow’s missions.

Story MAJ Justin Zwick

3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)

Photos by PFC Christina Randall