Book Description

As the Air Force's internal and external public voice, Air Force public affairs is uniquely positioned to influence the flow of information to different audiences about a variety of issues and operations. In this new operating environment, Air Force public affairs must determine its proper role in information warfare. The key to determining this role is to examine the tension between the public information and public relations functions of Air Force public affairs. The public information function focuses on the complete release of all information about the Air Force. The public relations function focuses on influencing public opinion to benefit the Air Force. A survey of documents defining the mission of public affairs suggests conflicting views within the US military concerning the public information and public relations functions. Department of Defense and Joint Staff documents define the mission of public affairs strictly in terms of public information, and even prohibit some public relations activities. Air Force documents define the mission of public affairs in terms of both public information and public relations, permitting the use of accurate, honest public information to perform public relations. Moreover, the Air Force public affairs core competencies (Trusted Counsel to Leaders, Airman Morale and Readiness, Public Trust and Support, Global Influence and Deterrence) identify several important public relations activities. Several Department of Defense and Joint Staff documents explicitly constrain the potential information warfare role of Air Force public affairs. The following list of constraints emerges from these publications: (1) Quickly and completely release all information. (2) Never release any kind of misinformation. (3) The only valid reasons for restricting or withholding information are national or operational security and the safety and privacy of personnel. (4) Do not manipulate public opinion.