USACAC: Center for US Army Lessons Learned (KATRINA) - a Primer to keep on file

USACAC: Center for US Army Lessons Learned (KATRINA) - a Primer to keep on file

USACAC. United States Army Combined Arms Center reports:

...

Support Operations, Public Affairs Office

Chapter 8

Extract from Center for Army Lessons Learned Initial Impressions Report 06-11,
Disaster Response Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

Figure 8-1: Public affairs interview in Mississippi

This article addresses the need for public affairs (PA) support during disaster relief operations. Public interest in how the U.S. government and the Army supports relief operations was significantly increased after Hurricane Katrina because this domestic disaster hit home in a monumental way. PA officers (PAOs) on the Gulf coast had to work closely with civilian media to ensure command messages and military information was disseminated in an accurate and timely manner. PAOs leveraged the power of U.S. media organizations to assist in information gathering and dissemination.

One National Guard (NG) division PAO in Louisiana conducted a vigorous media information program to get the command message out, despite staff shortages. The NG division, operating under the modular force structure, deployed with no organic staff. The modular force structure authorizes three officers and seven enlisted personnel in the PA section. The NG division possessed only one qualified PAO, who acted as the single point of contact for media operations within the division.

Through rigorous networking with military and civilian media agencies, the PAO was able to coordinate media coverage when opportunities surfaced. Most of this coordination was conducted while attending civilian news media meetings at the state emergency operations center. Command messages were disseminated via these meetings and with the military PA detachment (MPAD) located at Belle Chase, Louisiana, south of New Orleans. However, the MPAD was not part of the division. The division PA office had no tasking authority over the MPAD. Priority of media coverage was determined by the Louisiana NG chain of command, instead of the division-assigned command and control authority. If the MPAD was not available, the division PAO would cover stories on his own. These stories would be included in a newsletter that was distributed by the MPAD. The PAO also would arrange press meetings for the division commander. The PAO possessed 15 years of prior enlisted PA experience. This experience was critical in filling the void in staff structure.

In Mississippi, all intelligence/information was channeled through the joint task force (JTF) G2, who was also acting as the G5 and G7. As tactical-level units reported information about civil infrastructure and the status of services to the G2, this information was also passed to civilian media outlets by the JTF PAO. Initial military response priorities were communicated via press conferences and field media contacts at the local and higher headquarters levels. These priorities became part of the overall information operations (IO) plan and the media support plan. Sample talking points in the initial phase of the relief operation are listed below.

NG Support to Hurricane Katrina As of 2 September 2005 Key Messages This is what we do. We are trained and ready to help others, whether they’re overseas or in the United States. These are our neighbors we’re helping now. We’re looking forward to getting there and doing our part to help. We’ve been deployed before, so we’re used to being away from home for months at a time. No one likes to be away from his or her loved ones for too long, but we feel fortunate that it is for a good cause. The sooner we can get there the better for everyone. I’m ready. These National Guardsmen are trained professionals who bring great expertise and sensitivity to their mission in support of local law enforcement. NG helicopters have evacuated hundreds of sick and injured persons out of the devastated greater New Orleans area. Over the next few days, that number will rise to nearly 30,000 as we continue to deploy personnel and critical equipment to the hardest hit areas. These are National Guardsmen saving, protecting, and serving the American people. They are committed citizen-Soldiers and Airmen, gathered from communities across this country. The NG has a tradition of responding during natural disasters. More than 320,000 NG Soldiers and Airmen and their equipment from all states are ready to mobilize into the disaster-struck area. We understand the mission that lies ahead of us. This is why we serve – to help the nation in times of national crisis.

Insights/Lessons learned

• PA coverage while supporting domestic disaster assistance is vital in disseminating the command message and telling the Army story.
• The division PAO must be resourced with the authorized level of section personnel to properly conduct media support operations. Working one-deep has the potential to cause gaps in media coverage and may cause media opportunities to be lost.
• It is important for the PAO to be present in any disaster relief to act as a conduit for military and civil leadership.

Doctrine, Organization, Training, Materiel, Leadership and Education, Personnel, and Facilities (DOTMLPF) Implications

• Training: PA cells need to know and understand IO tactics, techniques, and procedures in order to take the lead when no IO personnel are present.
• Personnel. Commanders should place more emphasis on resourcing the PA office with the staff needed to conduct media operations during domestic disaster support operations. Deploying staffs should plan for the appropriate level of media support during domestic disaster support operations or identify civilian-acquired skills sets that will support the PA section.

Table of Supporting Observations
Observation Title		CALLCOMS File Number
Public Affairs Operations During a Natural Disaster		44841-43727
Intelligence Support to Effects		77501-71346

 

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Table of Contents | Foreword | Introduction | Chap 1 | Chap 2 | Chap 3 | Chap 4 | Chap 5 | Chap 6
Chap 7 | Chap 8 | Appendix A | Appendix B | Appendix C | Appendix D | Appendix E

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Nat'l Org US Assoc. of Veterans in Business (USAVETBIZ) teams with NC Vet Bus. Assn (NC VetBiz) ---open to other state level Vet orgs

North Carolina Veterans Business Association (NC VetBiz) Teams with The United States Association of Veterans in Business (USAVETBIZ) For Opening other State Level Organizations

“Serving Those Who Served” – NC VetBiz pledges to promote, empower and educate North Carolina’s veteran business owners and professionals

April 8, 2009 CHARLOTTE, NC –NC VetBiz has accepted an invitation to become the first state veterans’ business association to become affiliated with USAVETBIZ, a national organization that represents and promotes all veterans in business under the national banner of Commerce for the Defenders.

The alliance is designed to help veterans in business in other states to follow in the footsteps of NC VetBiz. The two organizations will remain independent of each other, but will promote the free flow of information, ideas and considerable energy.

“NC VetBiz has built an outstanding platform to launch their organization and we want to assist veterans in business in other states in duplicating the NC VetBiz foundation", said Richard Ramirez, President of USAVETBIZ. "Our two organizations will work together in developing a template for success. There is a high level of confidence that this will accelerate the Veterans Enterprise Movement by consolidating the forces of advocacy and recognition at the local level."

Other state organizations in the works include Virginia, California, Texas, Florida, Arizona and Illinois.”

“We are very pleased to be affiliated with USAVETBIZ, says NC VetBiz, President James Darnell. They were a great help to us as we undertook to create the first veterans business organization in North Carolina and we are honored that our work is seen as a model to help others. We’re excited about the interest that’s being generated around our great state from

veterans in business, the general public and many supporters who see the importance of stimulating business and assistance for military veteran entrepreneurs. We’re off to a great start and appreciate the support of many.”

On the web:

www.NCVetBiz.org

www.USAVETBIZ.org

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NextGov: The Army Got it Right (Bataan Memorial Death March Run at White Sands)

What's Brewin': Bob Brewin’s Take on Defense Information Technology

The Army Got It Right

By Bob Brewin   03/30/09 03:57 pm ET

WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M. - Reporters are known as cynics and cranks (that's what my friends in the public affairs shops in the Pentagon tell me) so I'm going to run against the trend. The folks from the White Sands Missile Range, the New Mexico National Guard and the Reserve Officer Training Corps who ran the Bataan Memorial Death March at the Missile Range did the Army proud.

These military sponsors of the event deserve kudos for superb organization, but the Army is supposed to be organized, right?

What made it a special and moving experience for me were the small touches: a bugler sounding reveille followed by a heart rending "Taps" as the sun crested the desert mountains; the kids from on-base families handing out flags to the marchers and then saluting them a mile from the finish line; and the hundreds of volunteers who gave out cups of water or energy drinks, cookies and -- best of all -- cheers and encouragement.

The Memorial March this year attracted a record crowd of some 5,300 civilian and military participants, up from 800 participants in last year's event. That old fashioned word "camaraderie" best summed up the event. For one day, on the grueling desert course here, Americans (as well as teams from eight other countries) from all walks of life, of all ages, came together for a common mission, and did so with courtesy and respect.

Putting one foot after the other on a 15.2 mile course, or one that was 26.2 miles long, is a great equalizer - and that applies to generals as well this aging Marine corporal. Army staff director Lt. Gen. David Huntoon flew in for the event and completed the 26.2 mile course in just more than six hours. Not bad for a 57-year-old guy whose day is filled with more briefings than grunting.

I completed the 15.2 mile course in five hours and 17 minutes. Not bad for a 65-year-old guy who spends his life in front of a computer. I plan to do the 26.2 mile course next year, and Huntoon said if I do, he'd do the 26.2 mile course next year with a 35-pound pack

See you then, sir .

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Maryland Senator Ben Cardin has introduced legislation that would allow struggling newspapers to become non-profits - THIS IS A GOOD IDEA!

---Heard on the Chris Plante Show 630 AM, WMAL on Weds., March 25th.

(Washington, DC) -- Maryland Senator Ben Cardin has introduced legislation that would allow struggling newspapers to become non-profits. Cardin's office says the "Newspaper Revitalization Act" would allow newspapers to operate as non-profit businesses under 501(c)(3) status for educational purposes, similar to public broadcasting. Under the proposal, newspapers would not be allowed to make political endorsements, but would be allowed to freely report on all issues, including political campaigns. Advertising and subscription revenue would be tax exempt and contributions to support coverage or operations could be tax-deductible. Cardin's office says the measure is targeted to preserve local newspapers serving communities and not large newspaper conglomerates.

(Copyright © 2009 Metro Networks Communications Inc., A Westwood One Company) 3/24/2009 2:44PM