AFAMs and Civil Air Patrol PIOs

August 2012

CAP Mission SummaryTraining and Qualification Changes

Press Release Issues

Overview

FY05 “A”, “B” & “C” Mission Comparison

CAP flew 108,248 Hours in FY05 44,979 on “A”

Missions 8,719 on “B”

Missions 54,550 on “C”

MissionsNote: “A” Missions includes Liaison Flying

CAP Missions Are Changing

FY12 “A”, “B” & “C” Mission Comparison As of July

CAP has flown 75,877 Hours so far in FY12 48,313 on “A”

Missions 7,606 on “B”

Missions 19,957 on “C”

Missions

64%9%

26%

"A" Missions "B" Missions "C" MissionsNote: “A” Missions includes Liaison Flying

We’re Supporting More AFAMs

Trained and experienced PIOs are often not available for major missions Missed Opportunities Internal and external marketing has to happen at all levels of the organization CAP PIOs must meet the same standards as customer agencies and know our place

The Problems

Current PIO Requirements

C-3000 – Demonstrate the ability to prepare an initial and follow-up news release

C-3001 – Demonstrate the ability to maintain a complete media contact list

C-3002 – Demonstrate the ability to coordinate news media visits to mission sites

P-0101 – Demonstrate the ability to keep a log L-0001 – Basic communications procedures for

ES Operations Complete Basic Communications User Training

(BCUT) Take CAPT 117 – ES Continuing Education exam Complete NIMS training - IS 100, 200, 700 and

800 and ICS 300 Courses Complete two missions as a supervised trainee

The Future

Two levels of training based on the National Incident Management System (NIMS) requirements from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

There will basically be two levels of PIOs

Current PIOs will have 3 years to work to qualify to the new Level 2 standards

Level 2 PIO Level 2 PIO Requirements (In addition to the

current): Demonstrate additional proficiency in writing,

photography, and presentation preparation – all needs for a good release

Demonstrate ability to prepare for and conduct a press conference

Complete IS-29 (PIO Awareness), IS-42 (Social Media in Emergency Management) and IS-702.a (NIMS Public Information Systems)

Complete FEMA G-290 (Basic PIO Training) or a CAP equivalent as determined by NHQ

Complete 2 missions as a level 2 supervised trainee

Recommend personnel complete G-291 Current PIOs that meet these requirements

can be qualified immediately by their wing commander or designee.

Level 1 PIO Level 1 Requirements:

Complete ICS 400 FEMA’s G-291 (Joint Information

System/Joint Information Center Planning) or equivalent CAP PIO Courses as determined by NHQ

2 missions as a Level 1 Supervised Trainee

Recommend that personnel complete E-388 (Advanced PIO Course) or CAP equivalent

Current PIOs that meet these requirements can be qualified immediately by their region commander or designee.

Press Releases Air Force always has coordination and

approval right on AFAMs Typical AFAMs (SAR, DR, Intercept, etc.)

this approval comes from the Air Component Commander’s PA

AFRCC coordinates SAR direct unless we push high profile request

Otherwise they should run through the NOC to 1st, 11th, or 13th Air Force for approval, with assistance from NHQ/PA especially on high profile missions

Other AFAMs (Cadet Orientation Flights, Training) are approved by CAP-USAF with Air University Coordination – run them through the NOC & NHQ/PA – this is normally a courtesy copy unless it is a hot topic

Press Releases Corporate Missions are local approval

(Wing), but assistance is available from the NOC and NHQ/PA Highly encourage local releases for high

profile events or activities to be coordinated with the NOC and NHQ/PA

Local customers should be included in your coordination process to avoid backlash

If all else fails, call and ask for help! The NOC duty officer is available 24/7/365

888-211-1812 ext 300 NHQ/PA is available during duty hours and

after hours, and the NOC has never had trouble reaching them either

Hiccups Imagery vs. Publicity Photos

Disaster imagery (damage photos) taken for a customer is generally considered their property unless they have given approval for CAP to use the imagery otherwise

Suggest you work with customers to include that in the initial request or authorization

CAP does not intend or plan to be in the imagery retention business – too many oversight issues

Members can’t just keep pictures for themselves

If you use your own camera to take imagery, you need prior approval, and must plan to turn over all imagery

Posting to social media without approval is even worse!

Hiccups Publicity photos are generally acceptable,

but can also require prior approval CAP Members have a release on file with their

membership application, but should be coordinated with either way

Non-CAP members need to be identified, and approval to use the photo received – email is acceptable

Approval of the people in the photo may not be enough; sometimes the background of the photo is more important, and sensitive, than who is in it.

It’s best to get photos documented early, and approval run with releases, rather than as an after thought

Even staged photos or imagery requires coordination

Hiccups Information is perishable

A good photo may not be usable if we can’t get approval to use it because nobody documented who was in it

In order to build good releases we need newsworthy details and quotes from the scene – after the incident is over it is often too late to get it

Timeliness is a concern for all of us – the more lead time and prep we have, the better off we are

Media flights are possible, but must be vetted to be sure it makes sense and we control what we can Make sure we know when the press is

riding on board

Hiccups Some missions require a zero public

release policy, or a very controlled release for good reasons: Safety of law enforcement officials for

current or ongoing missions Strategy or exposure of military resources

or capabilities Sometimes we can get publicity much

later, but still may not want it or need it Threats are sometimes made to military

units just because of their mission, and we don’t need to have CAP associated with that

There is often little to no interest for old mission info

Thank you for your dedicated service

to your communities, state

and our nation!