Soldiers and the Media
Dealing with the media can be a touchy subject, especially when you throw Soldiers into the mix. Before we discuss embedding media with a deploying unit, let’s discuss the overall aspect of setting Soldiers up for success when dealing with the media and the First Amendment Rights of a reporter.
Being a Soldier myself, and having been deployed, I fully know the responsibility of knowing when and when not to discuss certain subjects and situations, as well as, setting Soldiers under my command up for success when put into those types of situations. The quote I always use for myself and others around me is, “It is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool, than to open it and remove all doubt”. But that is not always the right answer, and when you need a right answer, there are guidelines that we set up in the military to make you sound like what right is supposed to sound like.
The first guideline is in reference to individuals interacting with the media. The first thing you must do is check for the proper identification or press credentials before proceeding. We stress that individuals do not have to speak to the media, you do not have to answer all the questions, and the individual controls the length of the interview. An absolute must is to never discuss classified information and always keep/maintain operational security (OPSEC).
The second guideline we give should lean toward common sense, but we put it out at all levels regardless to make sure everyone is on the same page. This list is as follows; think before you answer, tell the truth (do not lie or mislead anyone intentionally), only discuss things you have direct responsibility for or have personal knowledge about, do not answer “what if” or hypothetical questions, avoid jargon, acronyms, slang and/or technical terms, answer the question you are most comfortable with if asked multiple questions, keep your remarks brief and concise, always assume everything you say may be printed or
Being a Soldier myself, and having been deployed, I fully know the responsibility of knowing when and when not to discuss certain subjects and situations, as well as, setting Soldiers under my command up for success when put into those types of situations. The quote I always use for myself and others around me is, “It is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool, than to open it and remove all doubt”. But that is not always the right answer, and when you need a right answer, there are guidelines that we set up in the military to make you sound like what right is supposed to sound like.
The first guideline is in reference to individuals interacting with the media. The first thing you must do is check for the proper identification or press credentials before proceeding. We stress that individuals do not have to speak to the media, you do not have to answer all the questions, and the individual controls the length of the interview. An absolute must is to never discuss classified information and always keep/maintain operational security (OPSEC).
The second guideline we give should lean toward common sense, but we put it out at all levels regardless to make sure everyone is on the same page. This list is as follows; think before you answer, tell the truth (do not lie or mislead anyone intentionally), only discuss things you have direct responsibility for or have personal knowledge about, do not answer “what if” or hypothetical questions, avoid jargon, acronyms, slang and/or technical terms, answer the question you are most comfortable with if asked multiple questions, keep your remarks brief and concise, always assume everything you say may be printed or