What can you expect in the Air Force Public Affairs?

2016-05-18T17:48:35-04:00

Response by SSG Jeremy Siebenaller made Nov 8 at 2014 6:26 PM

2014-11-08T18:26:43-05:00

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member Can you help out here?

Response by 1st Lt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2014 8:43 PM

2014-11-17T20:43:35-05:00

I am currently at DINFOS for Public Affairs Qualification Course and the training is really great. When you get to your duty station, before you go to training, try to absorb as much information as you can. It will help immensely throughout the training here. Also, a lot of people are struggling with the journalism writing so try and get spun up on that before heading to DINFOS.

Response by 1st Lt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 21 at 2014 4:14 PM

2014-11-21T16:14:53-05:00

Congratulations on your selection! During your first couple years, you will be doing a little bit of everything. You will probably start in command information (writing articles/taking pictures) and dabble in community relations (tours, environmental, ceremonies) and media relations (arranging coverage, answering queries, writing press releases).

PA has a very diverse mission. If you like learning, you're going to like public affairs. You get a broad understanding of what goes on "Big Picture" Air Force.

Learn from your SNCOs. A lot of NCOs will also be technical experts (They taught me a lot about photography and video). They are passionate about what they do.

Try following different news outlets (BBC, CNN, Drudge Report) and see the different nuances. What does each outlet focus on? How do they report on one topic? Follow Department of Defense press releases too.

Excited to have you join the career field and wish you the best of luck!

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 21 at 2014 7:35 PM

2014-11-21T19:35:00-05:00

Having served in many joint assignments with Air Force PAOs, I'd like you to consider that the service differences are not as unique as people want us to believe. The Defense Information School is definitely a good place to start with common core philosophy and policies. A few service procedures do vary, and of course leadership is always situational, not inherent in any particular skill or service. That said, I believe the Air Force and Marines "get it" more than the Army or Navy sometimes. Of course, that too varies by command. Marines probably have the best community relations programs and in my opinion (as someone who critiqued and evaluated Air Force and Army publications)-the Air Force has the best public information program. There are many reasons for that, as I see it, and they are all good. What wasn't good, in my experience, is the fixation people get on their own service when they don't get enough joint assignments. The personalities of commanders and PAOs vary no matter which uniform they wear. Exact missions vary from command to command and by service. The ability to tell the command's story, the capacity for empathy for every other service person so that you can tell their story, to get them recognition and support from the American public is a rare skill that we hope you will find.

Response by MAJ Andrew Ready made May 18 at 2016 5:52 PM

2016-05-18T17:52:21-04:00

i am interested in this as well