Media Skills Training for Military Police.
Abstract
This study investigates the current proficiency of media skills required for Military Police junior leaders to perform missions in any environment. Currently, junior noncommissioned and company grade officer professional development courses do not teach media skills. The concept presented states that news media will be present in locations where military police junior leaders conduct operations. Consequently, leaders must be trained to deal with the media while successfully accomplishing assigned missions. Military police soldiers routinely are involved in crisis situations, whether in garrison or on deployment. Crisis situations attract news media, and military police are frequently the first line of contact. As US government representatives, military officials must cooperate with the press and provide information in accordance with Defense Department instructions. To do so without compromising operations security requires particular skills in dealing with media. This study examines junior leaders' actions with news media during deployment and garrison operations. Using input from various commanders, provost marshals, and public affairs officers, this study identifies areas of media skills training needed and concludes that Military Police junior leaders must receive this training. The study recommends media skills instruction in the noncommissioned, warrant, and commissioned officer professional development courses.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 07, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA312213
Entities
People
- Maryann B. Cummings
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College