How much national/foreign aid does the US Army's Civil Affairs Unit provide?

A while back I asked about humanitarian possibilites within the US Army. Most feedback I received was negative because, understandably, the Army's focus is on war currently.

However, with further research I discovered the USACAPOC or The United States Army Civil Affairs and Phsycological Operations Command.
Although complementary, the CA unit and POC are broken into two different units.
96% of the CA is reserve while 4% is active under Special Operations command.

With deeper investigation, it appears as if the Civil Affairs unit is where I'd be most interested in building a military career, either active or reserve, after my grad studies are completed.

I was wondering if anyone had anymore knowledge or first-hand experience about this part of the army.
How much national/foreign aid and nation building are they involved with as oppossed to sheer nation destruction and war?

I appreciate any insights anyone can provide!

~Michael Bird

Michael, you'd be amazed by what these units do, but I'd suggest you look more to the reserve side of the house. It's two very different monkeys doing the same thing in different ways.

I didn't get into expenditures or budgets, but I've worked with both Active and Reserve men of CA. The Active component are nearly all tabbed SF guys which should not be seen in a negative light. They are very compassionate and qualified for the work. It's a longer process to get there though.

I covered more the experiences involved in humanitarian aid and it IS a key to our success in both wars. The CA folks of both Active and Reserves are very busy and have a very rewarding job.

I did cover this a little bit in my latest article, "The Abused" In my latest article, entitled "The Abused" I examine the effects of our humanitarian efforts and relate it back to those things I've experienced in my own life, here, there and elsewhere as well as explained by the most advanced scholar on what causes one to kill and how to prevent PTSD, LTC Grossman.

So often I hear this question.

Do our expenditures in a foreign country where the population hates us (or loves us) really help Americans?
What is the difference between the way the American Military and International NGO's help the people differ and why is one way so much more effective?
Doesn't it break down that trust when our Soldiers and Marines search a house?
Shouldn't we shed our weapons and just be nice?

For answers see my blog: http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-dfkctju7d...

No politics. Only the truth. The groundtruth from a combat veteran that has been there.

Realize I do check back on my answers here as well as my questions. While the article didn't deliver as much on the CA folks in particular, it does describe parts of their mission. I'm likely to put out more articles on CA type missions and possibly even some of their stories.