“There’s no way I’m going to do anything more than the most basic aspects of public affairs. I don’t want to get fired.”
For decades, this was the common mantra of the military commander. Deeply rooted in the mid-grade officer’s negative experience with the media during the Vietnam War, engaging in public affairs was seen as risky business. Media interviews were to be scrupulously avoided because one could get fired by saying something wrong or not in accord with guidance from above. Engaging with the community was not helpful either as there would always be detractors, complainers, and activists hostile to the command’s mission.
Over time, the more enlightened commanders began to embrace public relations as a force multiplier and found ...
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