478th Civil Affairs Battalion
The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 26 January 1993.
The colors purple and white are traditionally associated with Civil Affairs units. The sword and scroll are derived from the Civil Affairs insignia of branch and represent the military and civil functions of the unit. The interlocked sections of the pale potenty symbolize the process of transition and transfer of functions and the mission of the Battalion. Red stands for courage and resolution.
The coat of arms was approved on 26 January 1993. The colors purple and white are traditionally associated with Civil Affairs units. The sword and scroll are derived from the Civil Affairs insignia of branch and represent the military and civil functions of the unit. The interlocked sections of the pale potenty symbolize the process of transition and transfer of functions and the mission of the Battalion. Red stands for courage and resolution.
The 478th Civil Affairs Battalion (Foreign Internal Defense/Unconventional Warfare) has a long and distinguished history of service in many areas throughout the world. Initially constituted in August 1945 as the 78th Military Government Headquarters and Headquarters Company in California, the unit was inactivated in Japan in 1946. The unit was reactivated as a company in 1955 in Miami and designated as the 478th Civil Affairs Battalion 1992.
The 478th Civil Affairs Battalion is made up of highly trained Special Operations soldiers who are ready to deploy anywhere in the world on short notice in support of a variety of operations. The unit provides civil affairs support in the SOUTHCOM area of operations, where the battalion has participated in numerous medical and humanitarian missions in Central and South America and the Caribbean. The unit is comprised of Spanish speakers and who are culturally oriented for SOUTHCOM missions.
Members of the 478th participated in Operation Just Cause in 1989 and Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm in 1989-1991. The following year, the unit provided humanitarian assistance activities in the wake of Hurricane Andrew. 478th personnel also assisted in relief efforts in Central America following Hurricane Mitch in 1993. Since then, the unit has deployed soldiers to Bosnia and throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean.
More recently, unit members have participated in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and in the Horn of Africa, where they conducted civil-military operations in concert with the local populace and international organizations working to enhance long-term stability of those regions. In 2003 the 478th was deployed to Djibouti in support of CJTF-HOA. A Civil Affairs team traveled to the north of Djibouti July 7 to assess the humanitarian needs of the residents and identified several potential project sites, such as the school in Obock and the Hospital in Tadjoura. The C Co., 478th CA Bn.'s Civic Action Team along with US Air Force and US Navy medical personnel was able to treat more than 390 patients at Damerjog, Djibouti on July 05. A Civil Affairs team from the 478th CA BN has been deployed to Hurso, Ethiopia and is conducting Civil Military Operations in the eastern portion of Ethiopia. The team has completed numerous assessments including a water distribution facility, civilian supply sources, schools and clinics in the Dire Dawa and Hurso area. On 7 July the team conducted an assessment of the Dil Chora Hospital in Hurso, Ethiopia on 7 July. C Company also conducted off-road ATV Training 14 July 2003. The C Co., 478th CA Bn.'s Civic Action Team along with US Air Force, US Navy, Djiboutian, French and German Military medical personnel were able to treat 150 patients at As Ela, Djibouti on July 19.
The 478th Civil Affairs Battalion is currently operating with the renowned 1st Cavalry Division in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, as well supporting missions in Haiti, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa and in the SOUTHCOM AOR.
Boots on the ground for the 478th Civil Affairs Battalion (CA BN) of Perrine, FL on Iraqi soil was 2 February 2004. However, preparations for serving in Iraq began back in January 2003 when selected members of the Battalion were sent to Taszar, Hungary to serve as civil affairs instructors for the Free Iraqi Force (FIF) composed of Iraqis living outside of their homeland. The FIF deployed with American troops into Iraq on day one of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Sergeant First Class David Garcia of Miami, FL was one of the FIF instructors chosen for the mission. He was voted by the FIF members as the outstanding civil affairs instructor. On 1 December 2003 the 478th CA BN was activated for support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. On 3 December 03 the Battalion flew to Ft. Hood, TX to conduct further force protection training. This training included live firing during convoy operations and room clearing exercises. On 3 January 2004 Ft. Bragg, NC became the final training and testing ground for the 478th before actual deployment. The unit was tested on a wide range of combat related skills and certified by Ft. Bragg as having the required combat skills for deployment.
