No, they were permanent residents of the Enterprise. Look it up.
From memory alpha:
"Although Starfleet crewmembers staffed the vital positions on board the Enterprise, civilian crewmembers were allowed to hold important jobs in the ship's science and medical departments, as well as support areas like Ten Forward and the ship's school or the arboretum. (TNG: "Night Terrors", "Hero Worship", "Ethics") The Enterprise included children among the civilians on board, a concept which was not initially embraced by Captain Picard. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint", "The Bonding")"
They were NOT simply riding the Greyhound Enterprise-NCC-1701-D Service. False. They did not have combat drills. Emergency evacuation drills like if you sit in the evac row on an airplane? Maybe once or twice.
yeap. it was debatable and not something that followed through the entire universe.
Even so, they were under the direction of the military. Every single soldier was above them. Remember, you lost track of the argument which was that the military controlled everything and that ultimately is much like NK where also the civilians are controlled by the military.
darn. you make it so easy. answering your own questions. :)