Civilian Scouts and the Medal of Honor

Civilian Scouts:

The two famous "Bills" of the Old West period in American history -- "Wild Bill" Hickok and "Buffalo Bill" Cody -- shared at least one distinction besides their name. They both served as civilian scouts for the US Army.

The position is remarkably similar to the job I do currently in Iraq: riding out with the Army on patrols, to advise them on how to leverage the tribal networks to solidify the peace and ensure the development of the nation. Sometimes the patrol is for my benefit, so that I can meet with tribal leaders in outlying areas in order to map the networks and develop strategies for the brigade to consider. One of the challenges is trying to explain the work to the bureaucracy, and I found that "civilian scout" was a model that was immediately understandable to soldiers. They remember their history very well, as you expect of an institution of warriors, and this explanation made sense to them.

I even have a few "name tapes" with the title, on my armor and also my gear:



It's a useful position, and a concept that probably needs to be restored. One of the problems with the Human Terrain Teams -- I speak as a strong supporter of the concept of the HTS and the HTTs -- is that the "social scientist" often fails to understand what the Army expects them to do. The most important figure on an HTT is their "social scientist."

(An aside -- Readers know I detest the term, as the whole concept of a 'social science' is bad philosophy. Science requires detachment, but the arts require just the opposite. To pursue an art faithfully requires love.)

The analysts are to bring them data; the team leader is to formulate their findings into milspeak. The social scientist is the heart of the HTT, though, and needs to understand not only the local culture, but what strategic effects the military wants to achieve. They need, for that matter, to understand that it is their job to produce strategic effects -- which means they need to understand just what is meant by the term "strategic effect."

The civilian scout is just what is wanted here. Not only does it have a resonant history, but it is a title that clearly explains the mission.