Basic Public Affairs Specialist Course Mission news Part of U.S. military tradition is built on the successful achievements of our armed forces during military operations. Some of the most well-known are operations like Operation Iraqi Freedom, a military campaign in Iraq; Operation Anaconda, the U.S. and Afghan military operation against Taliban forces in Afghanistan; and Joint Task Force Katrina, the USS Comfort hospital ship s mission during Hurricane Katrina. These and many more are significant to military members as well as the American public. Photo courtesy of Defense Imagery As a public affairs specialist, one of your goals is to keep the American public informed during these campaigns. Americans have a need to know how our servicemembers are doing and how well their resources are being used. Definition Purpose Guidelines Basic Structure The Defense Information School, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland 1
Definition Mission stories are internal or external releases written to inform people about current military operations. They cover all spectrums of military operations from humanitarian to combat missions. They provide a snapshot of military operations. Capturing the full spectrum of a major mission or operation can be a daunting task. But, by focusing on one part of the mission, the reader may be able to understand the purpose and responsibilities of each service. These stories emphasize a ground view of a specific mission. By putting readers on the ground, they can identify with the servicemember. The stories can be news or features. You will write the mission story as a news story often, but in the field you may see these stories are well suited as features. Photos courtesy of Defense Imagery 2 The Center of Excellence for Visual Information and Public Affairs
Purpose The purpose of a mission story is to allow for a better understanding of military operations, both by the internal and external audience. You can do this by covering a single mission to show a part of a larger operation. For example, if your unit is involved in a large cordon and search operation, you should follow one squad and report on its mission. If your unit is involved in a multiday medical mission, cover one event. If your unit is providing logistical support for a theater, cover one vital part of the support, such as convoy re-supply missions. There are many reasons for publishing mission stories. To inform taxpayers. The American taxpayers have a right to know how their money is being used. Keeping them informed and giving them a ground view of how their tax money is being spent can inspire confidence in the U.S. military. To show a broad spectrum of military operations. The military is much more than bombs and bullets. Some of the most important missions are non-combat related. Providing a workable infrastructure, educational opportunities and health care are just as important in the overall mission as killing the bad guys. In addition, hundreds of servicemembers provide vital support for the combat operators. Several types of missions are worth writing about: y Humanitarian y Combat y Medical y Logistical To give credit and inspire esprit de corps. Giving recognition and publicity to the servicemembers working hard to complete a mission can raise morale, improve combat effectiveness, and inspire esprit de corps within a unit. Global influence and deterrence. In today s communication age, mission stories can and will wind up anywhere. Showing the power and positive work of the U.S. military can deter future enemy combatants and provide local nationals with positive stories about their work. Photo courtesy of Defense Imagery The Defense Information School, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland 3
Guidelines As with any story, press release or statement, you must remember certain guidelines. Remember operational security. Stories have a wide audience, especially when they hit the Internet. You must remember to maintain operational security to avoid putting any servicemembers in danger or compromising any upcoming mission. The enemy uses mass media and the Internet very effectively. You can inadvertently give them information by providing troops details, standard operating procedures or scheduled events. Staff stories to review for SAPP violations. One way to ensure operational security and to make sure your stories don t contain SAPP violations is to staff them through units operations, intelligence and medical personnel. Sources. Seek operations personnel. Most units have some sort of operations staff who will have an overall understanding of an ongoing operation. They can be an invaluable source of information to get a broad picture of an operation. But don t stop there. Don t just rely on operations and commanders for information. The public is interested in the average junior servicemember. Talking to the junior enlisted and junior NCOs can put the reader in the trenches. It can improve morale for those actually carrying out an operation as well. Basic structure When constructing a mission story, you must develop strong angles, noting events or items that will be of particular interest. The inverted pyramid structure is typically appropriate for the mission story. In the field and fleet, a mission story can also be a feature. Lead. Just like a news story, provide the mandatory W s of the mission you are covering. Bridge. This is your chance to tie the story to the broader mission. Remember to conform to the guidelines of WAITS. Body. Write the body in inverted pyramid. Provide the most important information up front and write the rest of the story in descending order of importance. Photo courtesy of Defense Imagery 4 The Center of Excellence for Visual Information and Public Affairs
Basic Public Affairs Specialist Course Conclusion Throughout your career, you will write mission news stories to publicize ongoing operations. Through your work as a journalist, you can have an impact on the success of the unit. If your story is informative and engaging, more people will be interested in the mission. The Defense Information School, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland 5
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