Face of Defense: Book’s Profits Benefit Wounded Warriors

By Dan Thompson

U.S. Army Installation Management Command Europe

HEIDELBERG, Germany, Aug. 9, 2012 – Being an Army public affairs officer often means working irregular hours and constantly providing high-quality content for everything from newspapers to social media.

While it is a demanding, high-visibility profession, most PAOs could not imagine serving any other way. But for one civilian public affairs officer at U.S. Army Garrison Benelux, keeping service members and their families informed in Belgium and the Netherlands is not enough. He reaches for the stars.

Keith Houin is a "purple" PAO: a retired Air Force noncommissioned officer now working as a U.S. Army civilian. In his spare time, he also is one of the hosts of “The Science Fiction Show,” a weekly podcast about everything science fiction that has been downloaded more than 10,000 times since May 2011, according to Houin. The show is an outlet for Houin and his fellow hosts Jason Tudor and Michael Wistock, to share their passion for science fiction in film, television, books and other things. It also has become a way for Houin to share his love of science fiction, public relations, and charity.

Keith and his co-hosts, all Air Force veterans, have released a compilation of sci-fi stories in a book called "Battlespace" to raise money for the Warrior Cry Music Project charity.

"Choosing the right charity was a must," Houin said. "We wanted to donate the money from the book to the right cause, and helping wounded veterans was first on our mind. The Warrior Cry Music Project was high on our list, and we're excited to be able to do something with these folks."

The Warrior Cry Music Project helps wounded warriors in the Washington, D.C., area by donating musical instruments and lessons in a form of music therapy.

Houin said 100 percent of the profits from the book, which can be ordered online as a paperback or e-book, will be donated to Warrior Cry. The first donation is scheduled to be made tomorrow, according to podcast’s Facebook fan page.

"This has been a lot of fun to create and a lot of fun to read,” said Wistock, one of Houin’s co-hosts. “I hope the people that pick up this book will enjoy it as much as we have."

"Jason Tudor was the real workhorse behind putting all the material together, and without his talent this project may have never gotten completed," Houin added. Tudor is a Defense Department public affairs officer at the Marshall Center in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

Navy's Public Affairs Command Earns Unit Commendation

By NPASE Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- The Navy's Chief of Information (CHINFO) awarded Navy Public Affairs Support Element (NPASE) the Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC) in a ceremony held at the command's headquarters onboard Naval Station Norfolk July 17.

Rear Adm. Dennis J. Moynihan presented the Navy's only public affairs command with the MUC for "consistently demonstrated unparalleled success in communicating the Navy's strategy and its effects to the American public and the international community." Signed by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, the award recognizes performance comparable to that which would merit a Bronze Star Medal, or achievement of similar caliber in a non-combat situation.

Moynihan expressed his thanks and appreciation to the NPASE personnel.

"You have made this entire community so proud," said Moynihan.

During the award period of Jan. 1, 2010, to June 30, 2011, NPASE personnel provided public affairs and visual information support to 75 military missions while embarked on 127 ships. Additionally, NPASE personnel supported humanitarian assistance-disaster relief missions for Pakistan floods, the Haiti earthquake and the Japan earthquake and tsunami.

Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Deven King from the NPASE East detachment in Norfolk, Va., said he appreciates the diversity of NPASE missions.

"We deploy on different platforms, in different areas of operation and support humanitarian missions," said King. "I'm very proud to be a part of this unique command."

NPASE is comprised of 16 active duty and reserve detachments in Navy fleet concentration areas across the U.S., Europe and the Pacific. The command provides expeditionary public affairs forces supporting the Fleet and Component Commanders with scalable and immediate deployable force packages trained and equipped to support current and emerging Public Affairs requirements.

Vice Chief Thanks Boston and Sailors for Navy Week Support

By Lt. Cmdr. Chris Servello, Vice Chief of Naval Operations Public Affairs

BOSTON (NNS) -- The vice chief of naval operations (VCNO) met with Boston city officials and U.S. Sailors July 5 to thank them for their hardwork work during Boston Navy Week.

Adm. Mark Ferguson met with Mayor Thomas Menino at Boston City Hall to thank him for the warm hospitality that the city showed Sailors while USS Wasp (LHD 1) and USS Gravely (DDG 107) were in port for Navy Week.

"Boston is a Navy town with a rich maritime heritage dating back to the earliest days of the American colonies," said Ferguson. "Throughout this week, the citizens of Boston, state and city governments and area businesses have treated our Sailors with warm hospitality."

A celebration of the nation's sea services, Boston Navy Week provides an opportunity for the citizens of Boston and New England to meet Sailors, Marines and Coastguardsmen, as well as see the latest capabilities of today's maritime services firsthand.

"Our Sailors have greatly enjoyed their visit," said Ferguson. "This week has been a success in sharing America's Navy with Boston and celebrating the bicentennial of the War of 1812."

Ferguson also visited Wasp and Gravely to say thank you to their crews for the work they did to showcase America's Navy to the thousands of local visitors who toured the ships and interacted with Sailors.

Wasp and Gravely participation in Boston Navy Week from June 28 to July 6, gave their Sailors the opportunity to tour the city and interact with locals, as well as participate in community relations events.

"I could not be more proud of the Sailors who represented our Navy during Boston Navy Week," said Ferguson. "They were the embodiment of our values of professionalism, service, honor, and integrity, and were outstanding ambassadors for the naval service."

Boston Navy Week is one of many signature events around the country commemorating the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 and "The Star-Spangled Banner." The commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 is a salute to all Sailors and Marines who fought gallantly in that conflict, who served in all the nation's conflicts since then, and who continue defending freedom around the world today.

Since winning independence in 1776, the United States has been a maritime nation, relying on unobstructed access and free use of the world's oceans, which are essential to our national security and prosperity. The performance of America's Sailors and Marines in the War of 1812 set the standards upon which the nation's naval forces continue to build today.

For more information, visit the official Boston Navy Week Web site at www.bostonnavyweek.com or search "Boston Navy Week" on Facebook.

Wisconsin National Guard's director of public affairs earns national Accreditation

Lt. Col. Jackie Guthrie, the director of public affairs for the Wisconsin National Guard, earned an APR+M (Accredited in Public Relations + Military Communication) certification Saturday (April 14), becoming one of only 19 APR+Ms worldwide and the first actively serving member of the National Guard and U.S. Army to be certified.

Guthrie, of Sun Prairie, successfully completed a 90-minute oral readiness review presentation and a three-hour plus computer-based exam that tested her knowledge, skills and abilities in public relations and military public affairs in joint operations to earn the certification that she's been working toward for more than a year.

"While the personal accomplishment means a lot," Guthrie said, "it's really about demonstrating not only my competence in public relations but, more importantly, how public affairs supports military operations and using that knowledge every day on behalf of the Soldiers and Airmen I represent."

"Lt. Col. Guthrie is a consummate professional," said Maj. Gen. Don Dunbar, adjutant general of Wisconsin, and Guthrie's supervisor. "Under her leadership, the Wisconsin National Guard public affairs office has won numerous awards and her vision is evident in our social media strategy. This latest credential reflects her commitment to continuous improvement on a personal and professional level, and I am very proud of her accomplishment."

How the military practices public affairs has come a long way in the last 20 years, Guthrie explained. "When I joined it was about press conferences, press releases and pretty pictures," she said. "Now it's about the important role communications plays in military operations from planning through execution."

Guthrie has more than 20 years of public affairs experience acquired as a Department of the Army civilian public affairs specialist and a Soldier serving the National Guard, U.S. Army Reserve and the Army - not only in Wisconsin, but throughout the world. She is also an adjunct instructor in the communications department at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and commands the Monroe-based 64th Rear Operations Center.

"I decided to pursue this Accreditation to better myself, increase my ability to contribute to the Wisconsin National Guard's mission and goals, and to encourage my peers to do the same," she said. "Over the past 10 years especially, we [public affairs practitioners] have demonstrated how we contribute to overall mission success. To keep a seat at the table it's essential that we remain relevant, and some of that comes from continued education such as that offered through the APR process."

Guthrie is a graduate of Beaver Dam High School, has a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and a Master's in Public Administration from Webster University, St. Louis, Mo. Her military education includes Adjutant General Officer Basic Course, the Defense Information School's Public Affairs Officer Course, Adjutant General Officer Advanced Course, the Combined Arms and Services Staff School and U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.

According to the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) website, Accredited in Public Relations (APR) is the voluntary certification program created in 1964 for public relations professionals to unify and advance the profession by identifying those who have demonstrated mastery of a body of knowledge as well as recognition of experience and professional judgment in the public relations field. The international certification process is governed by the Universal Accreditation Board (UAB), of which PRSA is a lead participant.

In May 2010 the U.S. Joint Forces Command's Joint Public Affairs Support Element (JPASE), UAB and PRSA partnered to develop the APR+M credentialing in an effort to provide public affairs and communication certification for military, contractor, and Department of Defense public communication professionals.

"It's not just an expansion of the Accreditation program, but an expansion really directed at military members," said Barbara Burfeind, APR+M council member and chair of Guthrie's readiness review panel. She also stressed that Accreditation not a one-time thing, but requires continuous professional development to maintain the credential.

In addition to completing the readiness review and exam, APR+M candidates must also be a member of the military (active or reserve) or a Department of Defense civilian employee whose primary responsibilities lie in military communication-related fields, or a DoD military contractor and member of a UAB participating organization and whose primary responsibilities lie in military communication-related fields.

"Anyone can say they are a public relations practitioner," Burfeind said. "We're not required to be licensed - however, this [APR] sets the standard or the bar, and the bar is pretty high."

Wisconsin Guard members recognized for public affairs work

Wisconsin National Guard Public Affairs Office

Public affairs professionals in the Wisconsin National Guard garnered nine top awards, including five first-place awards, in the National Guard Bureau's 2011 Media Contest.

At Ease Express, the official publication of the Wisconsin National Guard, was named the National Guard's best web-based publication for the second straight year. In 2009 it took second place at the National Guard level, but advanced to take first place in the Army and Department of Defense competitions.

WisGuard Live, a command blog which launched in 2011, also took first place. Sgt. Tyler Lasure of the Wisconsin Army National Guard's 112th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, took first place for his story on two Wisconsin Guard members who competed in the Boston Marathon. Tech. Sgt. James Michaels of the 128th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office was named "Outstanding New Broadcaster" in the Air National Guard, and also earned a first place for his television sports report on Capt. Jason Parks.

Tech. Sgt. Sarah Franzen of the Wisconsin National Guard Public Affairs Office received a second place award for a video segment in the "I Am the Wisconsin National Guard" series. 1st Sgt. Vaughn R. Larson took second place for a story and photo from the 2011 Rhythm and Booms celebration.

Tech. Sgt. Jon LaDue of the Wisconsin National Guard Public Affairs Office received a third place award for his WisGuard Live blog commentary on motorcycle safety. Tech. Sgt. Tom Sobczyk of the 128th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office also took third place for graphics illustration with a Red Ribbon poster.

"I couldn't be prouder of the Wisconsin National Guard Public Affairs team," said Maj. Gen. Don Dunbar, adjutant general of Wisconsin. "They have led the transition to the digital age while preserving a legacy of excellence in media professionalism."

The National Guard Bureau Public Affairs Office received more than 800 entries from 44 states. Top finishers will advance to the Army and Air Force level contests.