When I was a second lieutenant working garrison PA ops at an Air Force wing in the Midwest, I did a lot of tours. Like a lot. I was a pro at talking through a mic on a moving bus pointing things out, giving history and even telling a few jokes. While it was not what I thought my career in the military would be like when I joined, I found the importance in this thing we call community relations. I got to spend my work days showing and telling ROTC cadets and local leaders why the Air Force is so awesome! How the Air Force community is part of their community and how we want them to be a part of ours.
During these tours, I would get asked by my guests, and on occasion other officers, “Why Public Affairs?” Why? Because of this exactly. I get to meet people, I get to learn about what everyone else does and communicate it to those who need to know.
As the PAO, you need to know a little bit of everything. It’s your job to share what your organization does with the local community, military leaders, congress and whoever else your target audience might be. In order to do that, you need to understand all aspects of your unit’s mission. Sounds like a lot to know, right? Hint: There is always someone out there who knows about what you need to know. You are a communicator, you learned how to ask questions in DINFOS. Apply this to daily ops. Get to know someone in every department. Have a buddy who goes to that meeting you can’t because you are a shop of one.
Be the SME of SMEs and get work done.
