[PAO] PAO SUI/CI Recommended Changes Re: The American Red Cross Versus Civil Air Patrol Public Relations

[Ken]

To the group:

I may be talking in the wind so to speak but here it goes:

My specific heartburn is the SUI evaluates ONLY the planning aspect of 
squadron PAO and requires very specific formats to be followed in order 
to "pass" (yet doesn't really give any good examples at the squadron 
level).  It fails to evaluate/mention what was ACTUALLY accomplished by 
the unit PAO during that evaluation/inspection period.

In my military career as enlisted and officer my experience has been 
that squadrons implement plans from wings & groups very rarely do they 
have a responsibility to write their own plans. In some military units I 
was assigned to our units were considered to be at the group level, so 
we did write an annex to one of the wings/military installations' plans 
and actually did have our own plan.   We were actually sent to a week 
long course on how to write the plan and there was very specific formats 
(the entire plan was outlined on what to place in each paragraph/sub 
paragraph) for the entire plan that were utilized.

Again over IMHO planning (both overall PAO goals & contingency plans) is 
a wing function in CAP and should not be a squadron function.  
Tactically at the squadron we should be implementing the wing guidance 
and a report mechanism should be in place to the appropriate wing/group 
PAO can easily monitor what the squadrons under his/her supervision are 
doing.   Interestingly the Wing CI PAO checklist doesn't appear to place 
any emphasis on supervision/mentoring at the wing level to subordinate 
units. (e.g. doesn't ask the Wing PAO to produce copies of each 
squadron's PAO plan or contingency plan).

Volunteers have limited time, there's a vast difference from doing 
nothing in a position to do something -- there seems to be some 
reference that I didn't do anything, as I said before best TV news 
coverage in the wing, numerous published stories, etc. consistently for 
five years!!   At the squadron PAO level if one is sending out news 
media releases/stories (that are getting published), getting TV & radio 
coverage than the job is getting done.  Successful action is more 
important than spending time writing about potential action!

When approximately 95% of the PAO function at the squadron level in a 
region gets a marginal because one is only looking at "planning" versus 
actual action/results there's a problem. Surely National "wins" in the 
end because volunteers have to clear those SUI discrepancies otherwise 
the CAP inspection machine will go crazy (on such minor administrative 
things)!!!  So change the SUI to a more reasonable/valid evaluation.  
IMHO here's an example of the squadron checklist:

  1.  Does the squadron have a web site and/or face book page?
  2. Is the website/face book page up to date (at least one posting 
every 20 to 30 days)?
  3.  Does the squadron publish/get published internally/externally 
stories about all of its' activities?
  4.  Does the squadron publish/get published internally/externally 
stories about its' members CAP accomplishments?
5.  Does the squadron publish/get published internally/externally 
stories of general interest about CAP (as requested by National/Wing 
headquarters)?
6.  How long has the squadron PAO been in the position?
7.  Has the squadron PAO received orientation/training from the 
group/wing PAO?

All of this activity can easily be kept on a simple log that shows 
activity/accomplishment date, activity description, news release (to 
whom) and/or internal, and results (either hot keyed but preferably 
downloaded/scanned into an electronic file or cross referenced to 
squadron website/face book page(s)).  All of this could easily be sent 
to the inspector so the PAO would not have to spend time at the squadron 
with the inspector.  IMHO it is very difficult to measure results 
because as an example the number of website/face book hits/likes etc 
could actually be CAP members and not the external public.

IMHO Here's a recommendation on the wing checklist:
1.  Has the wing PAO developed a comprehensive overall plan & 
contingency plan that meets region/national requirements?
2.  Has the plans been communicated to all subordinate units in the wing?
3.  Does the Wing PAO effectively supervise/advise subordinate units? 
(e.g. reviews monthly/quarterly reports, visits subordinate units 
websites, etc).
4.  Does the Wing PAO effectively train/mentor subordinate units PAO's 
(e.g. give examples of training e.g. emails, website, telephone 
conference calls (memos for record).
5.  How long has the wing PAO in the job?
6.  What is his/her qualifications for the position and what 
training/advise/mentoring was received from higher headquarters?

IMHO If one can simplify the squadron inspection process to one of 
action/results,  I would strongly consider returning to the PAO 
function.  However again, I'm not going to frustrate myself if there's 
no changes, since as a volunteer I do have choices on how to spend my 
available time!   Really got to wonder how many more have decided to do 
the same thing!!!

Ken
Former PAO


On 10/4/2015 8:56 AM, Arthur Woodgate wrote:
> snip..snip..snip.
> That said, Ken chose to blame NHQ, and this made it sound a lot like sour
> grapes. CAP is a regulatory organization, and we guide ourselves by the
> published regulations, manuals and pamphlets (that I'll call collectively
> "regulations") that tell us what to do (and we promise to follow, as the
> oath of membership states). If we think that any of it is wrong, then the
> procedure is to send a request for change to NHQ, where cooler heads will
> decide on the value of implementing such change. In all cases, though, what
> is published and what is changed is based on the personal experience of
> those who rose to the top and continue to  reach out to those who are
> practicing the specialty in the field with vigor and success.
>
> The idea is to create an organization that can fine-tune the regulations to
> make it more effective in Fla. Wing, Texas Wing, Calif. Wing, Hawaii Wing or
> any other CAP wing. Bottom line, the job of publishing, preserving and
> making available to the public the many CAP success stories is in the hands
> of the squadron, group, wing and region where it happens. This is not a
> trivial task, it is implemented by volunteers, and some volunteers are more
> effective than others.
>
> Regards
>
> Lt. Col. Arthur Woodgate, CAP
> SWR Director of Public Affairs
>
>