Public Relations in the Military

This book takes an in-depth look at the function of public relations as it exists in the U.S. military in the 21st Century.There have been several books and journal articles covering the military/media relationship but none that delve into breadth and depth of the responsibilities of today's military public affairs officer. This book discusses the concept and foundations of military public affairs (relations), the changing strategic landscape in communications, operational planning and execution and the people who practice military public affairs.The goal is to broaden knowledge and understanding of this vital, but little discussed, area of public relations among civilian and military public relations and communications professionals, faculty and staff in public relations programs, military leaders, as well as the U.S. civilian populace, and research scholars specializing in military public relations or public affairs operations.

​​​​​​The authors, all established military public affairs practitioners, have created an excellent resource for commanders, rising communication professionals and anyone who wants to better understand the critical importance of timely and accurate information flow in a democracy. Concise, comprehensive and elegantly written, this handbook is a must have for those who serve.--Rear Admiral Stephen Pietropaoli, U. S. Navy (Ret.). Former Navy Chief of Information, Public Relations in the Military is a game changer, providing that rare combination of interesting, insightful and informative guidance for leaders and practitioners alike. This book should be mandatory reading for every serving military officer.--Brig. Gen. Robert Hastings, APR, Fellow PRSA, Former Principal Deputy Asst Secretary of Defense, Public Affairs, Right now, more than ever, forthright communication with the public about our military is fundamental to our democracy, and military public relations is critical to that mission. That is not the case in all nations; just ask a Russian citizen. As a Presidential Appointee in the last administration and as a General Officer, I always had the public's attention. Whether I was testifying to Congress or being interviewed by the media about the capabilities of the newest weapon system, my PAO was always at my side and saved my career on several occasions. As one star wing commander I had a public affairs debacle that got the CSAF attention. He sent me a personal note that simply said, "use your PAO." I still have that note. Public Relations in the Military is a must-read book for senior military officers and NCOs. I suggest that our service academies and Professional Military Education programs use this book in their curriculum. I wish I had the opportunity to read Public Relations in the Military 20 years ago.--The Honorable Robert F. Behler, Former Director of Test and Evaluation, Office of Secretary of Defense, Major General (ret), USAF

Bob "Pritch" Pritchard, APR, Fellow PRSA, Captain, U.S. Navy (Retired), is a crisis communications expert and long-time leader in Public Relations Student Society of America and the Public Relations Society of America. Mari K. Eder, Maj. Gen., USA (Ret.), is a retired Army Public Affairs Officer, strategic communications expert and prolific author and speaker on the art of communications. Kim Marks Malone, APR, Fellow PRSA, Commander, U.S. Navy (Ret.), is an accredited PR professional, a retired Navy Public Affairs officer, a part-time PR consultant, and a full-time Public Relations Professor and adviser for PRSSA and Meeman 901 Strategies, a student-run strategic communication firm, at the University of Memphis. Matthew Kroll, Commander, US Coast Guard, is an award-winning, senior public affairs officer and communications professor. He specializes in crisis communications and led public information teams for multiple national-level incidents. Katie Cousins, Maj., U.S Air Force (Veteran), is also a wife, mother, and communication leader with experience in military public affairs, government strategic communication and corporate communications. Skye Martin, APR+M, Maj., USMC, is a Marine Corps Communication Strategy and Operations officer with a broad range of experience in military communication planning and evaluation, media engagement and community relations, and teaching and mentoring military officers as a Public Affairs and Communication Strategy instructor at the ­Defense Information School.