A civilian is a member of the general public who does not belong to any branch of the armed forces. A civilian may be a police officer, a firefighter, an EMS worker, or anyone else who provides a service to the community that is not military related. Civilians are bound by municipal, criminal and civil laws to the same extent as all members of society.
Despite the fact that they do not hold any responsibilities or powers in the armed forces, civilians are still a vital part of the military. They contribute their knowledge, expertise and vision to the broader policymaking process that gives military professions their framework. Civilians are also the ones who administer and guide, and provide budgets for, the defense enterprise. Civilian leadership at the policymaking level is critical to the success of the military.
It’s easy to understand why some people struggle to make the transition from military life to civilian life. For starters, most military jobs require a multi-year commitment. This means you may move between different locations often, both domestically and abroad. In addition, the military offers benefits such as healthcare, education assistance and retirement plans. These are not always offered in the civilian workforce.
Another major difference between military and civilian life is that the military community is usually tight knit. This makes it difficult to leave and establish a new social circle in civilian life. While it’s important to maintain your network of friends in the civilian world, it’s a good idea to try and connect with the military community as much as possible to stay connected to the culture that made you so proud to serve.
Many people assume that the only difference between a military and a civilian is that they don’t wear a uniform or carry a weapon. In reality, however, the distinction is more nuanced than that. Military law has historically tracked civil law since the first Manual of Court Martial was published in 1895. For example, the military has a similar civil rights advisement as the Federal Rules of Evidence.
The term civilian has been around for a long time and refers to the code of law that governs non-military life. The term is derived from the Latin word for “civitate,” which means “people.” The concept of a civilian was further codified in the Third Convention on the Rights of Civilians, and in Articles 43 and 51 of Protocol I to that Convention.
For centuries, the distinction between combatant and civilian has been a central principle of international law. This distinction is based on the premise that combatants must be separated from civilians during times of conflict in order to ensure their safety and protect the right to life of all civilians. This has not always been a universally agreed upon concept, however, and it is still contested today. Helen M. Kinsella’s book The Image Before the Weapon: A Critical History of the Distinction Between Combatant and Civilian explores ambiguities and inconsistencies in the principle over the years.