Public Relations in the Military

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