Active Component, Civilian Response Corps

From the deserts of Darfur to the concrete jungle of Beirut, the Active component of the Civilian Response Corps has deployed to countries as diverse as Sudan, Chad, Lebanon, Kosovo, Haiti, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

In early 2006 the State Department’s Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization (S/CRS) established the Civilian Response Corps’ Active component – a team of first responders who can support a U.S. mission or military operation, engage with a host country government, coordinate with international partners, and conduct assessments in the field. Officers are prepared to deploy on 48 hours notice, including to austere environments and combat zones. These officers are the most important part of the U.S. Government’s capacity to help stabilize and reconstruct societies in transition from conflict or civil strife. This is critically important, as unstable states present a serious threat to the security and interests of the United States and our international allies, as they provide a base of operations for terrorist groups, drug traffickers, and other dangerous individuals.

Active officers bring a wide range of experience, from both the Civil Service and Foreign Service and from all cones, specializations, and bureaus. They receive additional training in reconstruction and stabilization, planning, field communications, first aid, and advanced personal security.

Members of the Active component are available and willing to deploy anywhere within 48 hours. While the Corps is a new concept and still growing, its initial deployments demonstrate that the Department can get people to the field faster than ever with appropriate training and equipment and without pulling personnel from other critical Department priorities.

Active officers perform a range of duties:

Reconstruction and stabilization operations can only be successful insofar as the resources of the whole government can be brought to bear. Besides State, seven other agencies are standing up active components as part of the Civilian Response Corps, in order to contribute their unique skills and expertise to post-conflict contingencies.

To be alerted when hiring announcements are posted for the Active Component of the Civilian Response Corps, please join our informational mailing list.

Current openings at the 8 participating agencies may be found on our Active Component Vacancies page.