the 1st and 3rd sentences of the End-State sub-paragraph of the Commander’s
Intent paragraph of the USAREUR Order.)
“End-State. U.S. demonstrates its airborne capability and resolve to
defend NATO allies and partner nations. The U.S. is prepared for future
training, exercises, and operations. Key audiences are informed of U.S.
commitment to our allies and partner nations without provoking undesired
Russian response.”
Within 48 hours of the order’s publication, USAREUR deployed a 6-member
team of public affairs personnel to Poland, and the 173rd Airborne Brigade
deployed 3 public affairs personnel – three days ahead of the airborne forces
(600 personnel) from the 173rd Airborne Brigade. The USAEUR Public Affairs
Office in Germany continued to plan and coordinate activities, while the forwarddeployed civil affairs personnel In Poland made the most of their available time to
accomplish myriad tasks. Their combined efforts included: coordinating with host
nation defense officials, with U.S. country teams in 4 nations (Poland, Latvia,
Lithuania, and Estonia), and with international media; facilitating coverage of the
impending arrival of the airborne forces; scheduling senior leader engagements
with the media; and, planning for the timely release of official imagery and news
stories that would assure the public of the transparency of Defense Department
activities.
“One of the most important things we did was acknowledge early on that there
was going to be a heavy public affairs component to it, and get the capabilities
we needed on the ground in the Baltics and in Poland” – Lieutenant General
Campbell, USAREUR Commander (during Operation Atlantic Resolve)
Moreover, USAREUR public affairs personnel helped shape the execution of the
maneuver plan. Originally, the plan had called for the airborne forces to jump in
at night. However, public affairs personnel requested that this plan be changed
so that the media could actually see the arriving forces and take pictures & hold
live broadcasts during daylight. USAREUR then changed the plan from night
airborne operations to daytime air-land operations – maximizing opportunities for
the media to take pictures, provide news coverage, and reinforce the desired
message of U.S. and host nation soldiers standing shoulder-to-shoulder. Also,
USAREUR’s plan had called for 4 simultaneous arrival ceremonies – U.S. forces
landing and linking up with host nation partner militaries in the 4 countries.
However, public affairs personnel argued against what would seem like “one big
splash” (held in one day) – which could easily be forgotten by the public shortly
thereafter. They argued instead for staggering the arrivals over the course of 5
days. Again, USAREUR changed the plan to benefit media coverage, and the
forward-deployed public affairs personnel split up into teams – ensuring
comprehensive coverage at the 4 different ceremonies.
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