Public Affairs

What does the Public Affairs career field do?

Researches, plans, implements and evaluates media operations, community engagement, strategic communication, command information, and the public affairs aspects of Operations in the Information Environment alone, or in conjunction with other Information Warfare and joint information forces. Conveys information through verbal, non-verbal, audio, visual, and written mediums to achieve communication objectives in support of DoD and DAF desired effects. Develops communication plans, conducts media training, plans and facilitates community and key leader engagements, and creates public communication products and content. Supports Department of the Air Force communication efforts by preparing material for use by internal and external audiences. Engages with media and community to build relationships, mitigates mis/disinformation and propaganda, and advocates for DAF priorities. Manages the release of information in accordance with DoD and DAF regulations, ensuring transparency and protecting sensitive information. Related DoD Occupational Subgroups: 140000 and 157000.

Duties and responsibilities

• Conveys information through verbal, non-verbal, audio, visual, and written mediums to achieve communication objectives in support of DoD and DAF desired effects. Establishes procedures for collecting, evaluating, and distributing products. Determines equipment requirements, researches subject matter, and establishes imagery acquisition plans. Conducts research and facilitates interviews of subject matter experts. Captures, edits, and reviews material for compliance with local and DAF policy and operational security. Delivers messages through mediums in the form of photography, videography, graphic design, and written communication products.
• Manages digital platforms. Employs communication mediums, analyzes digital platform effectiveness, enforces operational security and regulatory compliance, counters mis/disinformation and propaganda, integrates emerging technologies, and advises senior leaders to influence target audiences and achieve communication objectives.
• Identifies and executes communication planning activities. Conducts research, plans, implements, evaluates and assesses communication activities to align with commander lines of effort to achieve desired outcomes. Explains how assigned tasks align with senior leader priorities. Explains concepts and components of the information environment and contributes to the planning, execution, and assessment of Operations in the Information Environment, along with other information warfare capabilities and information forces.
• Builds and maintains relationships through community engagement activities to enhance public understanding and support of DAF missions, policies, operations, activities and investments. Develops informational material on military activities of interest to civic groups, key stakeholders and other relevant publics, and arranges for and assists military speakers. Plans tours, orientations, and open houses for community members. Develops and executes communication strategies in response to environmental concerns.
• Establishes, executes, and manages programs to ensure compliance with all regulations and standards. Ensures assigned equipment is maintained and accounted for in mission management tools as required. Forecasts, manages, schedules, and advocates for budget, personnel, and resources to meet current and future mission requirements.
• Develops, trains and mentors total force, officers, enlisted, and civilian personnel using Department of the Air Force and career field progression resources. Evaluates, monitors, and validates unit readiness and training.
• Conducts crisis communication. Writes and maintains accident and other contingency plans. Responds to accidents and incidents. Performs investigative/forensic documentation to include legal, safety, medical, and criminal requirements. Responds to natural disasters and major incidents such as aircraft mishaps, suicides, homicides, domestic abuse, sexual assault, and mass casualties.Performs ground and aerial video documentation to include combat and non-combat operations.
• Prepares and releases information for internal and external audiences. Establishes procedures for collecting, evaluating, and distributing products. Reviews mediums for compliance with DoD and DAF public affairs regulations, security and policy review, Security, Accuracy, Policy, Propriety (SAPP), and classification guidance. Analyzes operational and strategic information environments. Advises on legal and ethical standards and the strategic release of information.
• Plans, executes, and manages media operations by conducting media training, utilizing relevant guidance (e.g., crisis action plans, Public Affairs Guidance, DAFIs), and facilitates media engagements. Analyzes open-source reporting, researches sentiment, and assesses source credibility and bias to identify and counter mis/disinformation, and propaganda. Develops media guidelines, implements strategy, advises decision makers, and evaluates media operations to ensure effective communication outcomes. Integrates with cross-functional teams to develop and disseminate media policy and guidance.
• Performs ground and aerial documentation to include joint and combined combat and non-combat operations, exercises, contingencies in low-light, no-light, and austere environments.
• Conducts aerial documentation and coordinates with aircraft commanders to ensure proper aircraft positioning and maneuvering. Supports scientific analysis, test documentation, and aerial documentation requirements.
• Provides specialized communication capabilities through cinematic video productions and live transmissions in support of DAF and DoD priorities and communication objectives.

Specialty qualifications

Knowledge. Knowledge is mandatory of basic to intermediate level communication methods to include mediums and digital platforms, communication strategy and assessments, media operations, community engagement, release of information, program management, resource management, personnel development and training.

Education. For entry into this specialty, completion of high school or general educational development equivalency is mandatory. Courses in creative arts and communications are advantageous.

Training. The following formal training is mandatory for award of the AFSC indicated:

• 3N036. Completion of the Mass Communication Foundations Course is mandatory.
• 3N056. Completion of Public Affairs Journeyman Course (PAJC) and, as applicable, Public Affairs Journeyman Course-Wing (PAJC-W).
• 3N076. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 3N056. Experience leading, managing, and directing Public Affairs functions and Airmen.

Experience. The following experience is mandatory for award of the AFSC indicated:

• 3N056. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 3N036. Experience supervising and performing Public Affairs functions.
• 3N076. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 3N056. Experience managing and directing Public Affairs functions.

Other. The following is mandatory as indicated:

• For entry into this specialty:
• Normal color vision as defined in AFI 48-123, Medical Examinations and Standards.
• See attachment 4 for additional entry requirements.
• For entry, award, and retention of these AFSCs:
• Absence of any speech impediment, and ability to read aloud and speak distinctly.
• The Career Field Manager will consider waivers for E in the PULHES area with a value greater than 1. Waivers exceeding mandatory AFSC requirements will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the CFM.
• Specialty requires routine access to Secret material or similar environment. For award and retention of AFSCs 3N0X6, completion of a current National Agency Check, Local Agency Checks and Credit (NACLC) IAW DoDM 5200.02, AFMAN 16-1405, Air Force Personnel Security Program. NOTE: Award of the 3-skill level without a completed NACLC is authorized provided an interim Secret clearance has been granted according to AFMAN 16-1405, Air Force Personnel Security Program.
• Must possess a valid state driver’s license to operate government motor vehicles (GMV) in accordance with AFI 24-301, Vehicle Operations.
• For award and retention of these AFSCs, must maintain local network access IAW AFI 17-130, Cybersecurity Program Management and AFMAN 17-1301, Computer Security

Civilian career paths

Comparable civilian careers for this field pay roughly $36,770–$98,890 per year (median salaries; varies by role and location):

• Administrative Services Managers: $98,890
• Art Directors: $97,270
• Audio and Video Technicians: $47,920
• Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys: $36,770
• Broadcast Technicians: $43,570
• Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film: $57,200
• Customer Service Representatives: $35,830
• Desktop Publisher: $47,560
• Editors: $63,400
• Film and Video Editors: $67,250
• First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers: $58,450
• Graphic Designers: $53,380
• Librarians and Media Collections Specialists: $60,820
• Media Programming Directors: $76,400
• Media Technical Directors/Managers: $76,400
• News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists: $49,300
• Photographers: $41,280
• Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators: $34,720
• Prepress Technicians and Workers: $41,410
• Printing Press Operators: $37,880
• Producers and Directors: $76,400
• Proofreaders and Copy Markers: $41,140
• Public Relations Specialists: $62,810
• Sound Engineering Technicians: $53,520
• Special Effects Artists and Animators: $77,700
• Writers and Authors: $67,120