We write often about spending time in your organization’s Joint Operations Center (here and here and here and here and here) because it is your organization’s hub for centralizing and sharing information. It is the one-stop-shop for information for your commander, their subordinate commanders, and your higher headquarters. Get your team a dedicated desk in the JOC, and put a body against it.
Over time, I’ve heard PAOs flatly reject the idea that they’d invest a team member’s time in manning their JOC or TOC (tactical operations center). Looking back, I should have challenged that idea: where were they going to track current operations and collaborate with the staff?
There are many innovative and unique ways an expert communicator can contribute to the mission while sitting in the JOC, surrounded by staff peers and military professionals. Here are the PAO JOC basics; make sure you can do this on your first day in your organization’s JOC, to add value:
1. Learn and Know the Ground Truth
Your job as an expert communicator in the JOC starts on the receiving end of communication. Know how to find and comprehend information at the same pace as your ops, intel and support staff experts. Use the same systems and acronyms as the battle captain. Attend and participate in CONOP briefs. As operations occur, have a working knowledge of the ground truth to accurately explain the 5Ws, background and context with your fellow PAOs and higher headquarters.
2. Research and Draft Public Affairs Guidance
PAG, as a doctrinal format, is time consuming and generally too complex to be useful to spokespersons addressing crises. However, it’s easy to write when you have a working knowledge of your organization’s operations. Plus, all PAOs are familiar with the format. When the information you need to build PAG isn’t in your head, you’ll find it in the JOC. Synchronize your PAG-writing process so you’re feeding complete, recommended language to your higher headquarters at the same time your operations officer or commander is submitting CONOPs and SITREPs.
3. Understand and Meet Requirements … and Timelines
Timelines and priorities change quickly in the military. Connect the rest of your Public Affairs team to the JOC’s main efforts … and vice versa. Be a Public Affairs metronome: follow up on promised actions and don’t let things slip through the cracks.
4. Inform Staff on the Media
Since you’re the PAO, of course you’re going to have a system to see the news. Don’t abuse that connection to surf Facebook or screw around on the Internet. Just like the intel team is making sure the JOC is aware of new information, you should call headlines and summaries as you see breaking news related to your forces, operating environment, resources, authorities and support. Make it your business to be the first and most informed source of surprising news.
The JOC is your open office. Your news room. Embrace it.
(Photo by Thomas “Karl” Brenstuhl, DVIDS)
