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The media aspects of military operations are important, will get national attention, and warrant your personal attention.
GEN Colin Powell, CJCS
Message to Operation DESERT SHIELD Commanders, 1990

Make sure your subordinates are well briefed on the mission and their role in making a successful public affairs program work.
GEN Norman Schwarzkopf
Message to Operation DESERT SHIELD Commanders, 1990

INTRODUCTION: CI is the two-way flow of information between commanders and soldiers. At one time, soldiers in combat depended on CI for most news and information. Commercial news was not available or untimely. Today, modern technology is such that deployed soldiers will seldom leave without access to civilian news. This places additional importance on good CI because soldiers can now turn to other sources for information. Leaders can turn civilian coverage into an extension of their CI programs by providing detail and perspective on the coverage. The best CI programs recognize that today's soldiers are sophisticated, intelligent and products of the Information Age.

TOPIC: CI as a Function of Command.

DISCUSSION: Soldiers want to know about the mission, their roles, how the mission is perceived at home and abroad, what other units are doing in support of the operation, and which teams won yesterday's games. Most importantly, soldiers want to know that their family members are being taken care of. CI answers these questions, while also providing timely training tips and safety reminders.

Getting information to the soldier was more important than food. How did it manifest itself? In morale!
Battalion Commander

At critical times, I would have a command information get-together. A lot of times there would be a lot of discussion about world politics. It was amazing to see the troops' level of knowledge and interest in the details of world politics.
Battalion Commander

Once we hit the sand, there was no emphasis on pushing information down to the soldiers. The best way to stop rumors is to give correct information. We teach that in leadership all the way up the chain.
First Sergeant

Information from civilian sources was more correct than that of military channels.
Sergeant

There were a couple of highways over there that were deadly, and [AFRTS radio] was very, very supportive of [broadcasting] safety information.
Battalion Commander

Our biggest challenge is to figure out how "fortysomething" commanders can effectively communicate with "twentysomething" soldiers and their families, who have been raised on commercial news.
MACOM Public Affairs Officer

It (information) made my stamina rise and more aware of the values, self-esteem and confidence in myself.
Specialist

Our biggest concern was making sure that what got published was information and not misinformation. No place is without problems. The key thing is how you address those problems.
Division Rear Detachment Commander

LESSON(S): Commanders and PAOs should develop detailed CI plans for contingency operations and training exercises. Commanders should stress to their staffs and subordinate commanders that CI deserves their support.

• Provide regular briefings to soldiers and family members
• Use bulletin boards.
• Request mobile Armed Forces Radio and Television Service. Don't assume it is en route; initiate the request through operational channels.
• Arrange, through PA channels, civilian media coverage of the unit.
• Encourage unit coverage in unit, local and national media.
• When unavailable through PA or operational channels, task the G-2/S-2 or G-3/S-3 to monitor news broadcasts and prepare news summaries for soldiers.

TOPIC: Locally Produced Newspapers are an Effective Way to Produce CI.

DISCUSSION: Although the products were not as sophisticated as those produced at corps and above, newspapers and newsletters produced at division level and below were well received by soldiers. The division products were unit specific, timely and easier to distribute. Forward-deployed soldiers and leaders said morale suffered when they had to depend on CI products produced in the rear. Corps and theater newspapers were not timely enough, were heavy on features and light on news, and could not focus on forward units.

[The division's field newspaper] was very timely and the soldiers gobbled it up, they really did. The lower you get, the more of a need you have for a newsletter or bulletin. Get it out quickly and keep the troops informed.
Battalion Commander

[One unit] had something that I saw. It came down in three or four typed pages stapled together. We [read] every word.
Sergeant

We couldn't get enough copies of [the division's field newspaper]. We would put copies on bulletin boards. They were good. We needed to do that more often and print more copies.
Battalion Commander

LESSON(S): Commanders and leaders should ensure an effective CI system is implemented to keep all audiences informed. CI products include, but are not limited to:

• Unit newspapers, newsletters and fact sheets.
• CI briefings/discussions.
• Field-expedient bulletin boards and electronic bulletin boards.
• Support group newsletters and videos. Ensure all soldiers have access to CI products and that they are timely. Seek PAO/Unit PA Representative (UPAR) advice on the best method of informing intended audiences and distributing the products.

Table of Contents
Foreword
Section I, Part 2