The services have public information officers to keep the public informed about the military. These officers answer questions from the news media, members of Congress, private citizens, and service personnel. They also prepare reports and news releases about activities on military bases and service policies and operations.
What They Do
Public information officers in the military perform some or all of the following duties:
- Supervise the preparation of reports and other releases to the public and the military
- Brief military personnel before they meet with the public and the news media
- Provide information to newspapers, TV and radio stations, and civic organizations
- Schedule and conduct interviews and news conferences
- Plan activities to improve public relations
Helpful Attributes
Helpful fields of study include journalism, communications, public relations, and advertising. Helpful attributes include:
- Ability to speak effectively in public
- Ability to write clearly and simply
- Interest in news and current events
Training Provided
Job training consists of classroom instruction. Course content typically includes:
- Department of Defense policies
- Principles of public information and community relations
Work Environment
Public information officers usually work in offices.
Civilian Counterparts
Civilian public information officers work for large corporations, government agencies, colleges and universities, and community groups. They perform duties similar to those performed by military public information officers. They may also be called public relations representatives and corporate communications specialists.
