Commander Questionnaire

Part I
Demographic Information
1. What is your branch of service?

a. Army
b. Marine Corps
c. Navy
d. Coast Guard
e. Air Force

2. What is your rank?

a. 0-1 to 0-3
b. 0-4
c. 0-5
d. 0-6
e. GS-7 to GS-9
f. GS-11 to GS-13
g. GS-14 or above

3. Sex.

a. Male
b. Female

4. How much command total experience do you have?

a. Less than 1 year
b. 1-2 years
c. 2-3 years
d. 3 or more years

5. How long have you been working with your current public affairs officer?

e. Less than 1 year
f. 1-2 years
g. 2-3 years
h. 3 or more years

Part II
The following questions are designed to help evaluate the effectiveness of public affairs to commanders. In addition, this survey will aid in strengthening those areas of public affairs that commanders think are not meeting their objectives. Please answer the questions based on your knowledge, opinions, and experience with public affairs. Your reply to this survey is strictly voluntary and anonymous - do not include your name. Your information will be combined with that of other commanders.

6. Public affairs planning should be an integral element of the decision-making process at every level and across the continuum of operations.

7. My public affairs officer has virtually unlimited access to all levels of staff and is included in all levels of staff planning.

8. Public affairs input is important during the development of possible courses of action.

9. My public affairs officer has the support of the command staff.

10. The public affairs officer is an important adviser to me.

11. The public affairs officer actively participates in my decision-making process.

12. The public affairs officer has direct access to me and the executive officer.

13. Public affairs is more of an afterthought than a forethought in my command.

14. The success of my command policies depends on the public affairs program.

15. A positive relationship with the civilian community is necessary for overall mission accomplishment.

16. The public affairs officer should be consulted on command aspects that may impact the community.

17. Maximizing opportunities for interaction between people in my command and their community is important.

18. My command has established specific objectives and courses of action regarding its relationship with the local community.

19. My command has regular orientation visits or tours for the public or participates in such visits/tours.

20. As a commanding officer, I regularly seek opportunities to formally or informally speak with local civilian professional groups or local public officials.

21. Our public affairs program places too much emphasis on gaining favorable public opinion for our activities.

22. I urge staff members to consult public affairs on issues they are working on that may impact the community.

23. Command personnel should interact with the media during training or operations.

24. Information should be given to the media whether stories produced will be positive or supportive.

25. Consistent with national security, command personnel should give maximum cooperation to U.S. news representatives covering military accidents occurring outside military installations.

26. Information should be withheld from the media to protect my command from criticism or embarrassment.

27. It is important to keep the public informed of my command's achievements and successes, as well as its problems and failures.

28. The media are more of a nuisance to my command than an opportunity to tell my command story.

29. I incorporate news media training in all exercises.

30. The military has an obligation to the media and the public to release as much information as possible as quickly as possible.

31. Public affairs advice should be sought on any issue that can affect the command population.

32. Public affairs programs are important in keeping my command informed.

33. "Bad" news should not be published in command-sponsored publications.

34. My public affairs staff keeps the personnel under my command well informed of command-interests items.

35. The public affairs program has a major role in the acceptance of service initiatives in my command.

36. Keeping members of my command informed an important aspect of the public affairs program.

37. I urge staff members to consult public affairs on initiatives in their area that may impact people in my command.

38. I regularly contribute articles or editorial content to the command-sponsored publication.

Part III

The following questions are open-ended questions that allow you to write answers in your own words.

39. Do you feel that you have received enough formal education or training about public affairs? Why or why not?

40. Do you feel that you have received enough informal education or training about public affairs? Why or why not?

41. What do you think of the formal public affairs training you have received?

42. What do you think of the informal public affairs training you have received?

43. How would you describe the quality of formal public affairs training you have received? Where have you received such training?

44. How would you describe the quality of informal public affairs training you have received? Where have you received such training?

45. How would you characterize your personal experiences with public affairs personnel and how have those experiences affected your view of public affairs?

46. How would you characterize your personal experiences with public affairs activities and how have those experiences affected your view of public affairs?

47. Generally speaking, what is your personal opinion of your public affairs?

48. Generally speaking, what is your personal opinion of public affairs functions or activities (e.g., media relations program, community relations program, or command information program)?

49. How would you describe the quality of your public affairs staff?

50. How would you describe the quality of your command's public affairs programs or functions?

51. What have you heard about public affairs personnel from other people?

52. What have you heard about public affairs functions or activities from other people?

53. What opinions do people you know have of public affairs personnel?

54. What opinions do people you know have of public affairs functions or activities?

55. How has other people's views of public affairs personnel contributed to how you view public affairs personnel?

56. How has other people's views of public affairs functions contributed to how you view public affairs functions?

Public Affairs Officer Questionnaire

Part I
The first section of this survey asks for some general information. Please write or type your response in the appropriate space provided for each question.

1. What is your branch of service?

2. What is your rank?

3. How old are you?

4. Sex:

5. Is public affairs your primary career field?

6. How many years have you been in public affairs?

7. How long have you been working with your present commander?

Part II
The next portion of the survey asks some questions about your commander's perception's or actions toward different aspects of the public affairs mission. Please write or type in the space provided the number that best reflects your commander's perceptions and attitudes.

8. My commander believes public affairs planning should be an integral element of the decision-making process at every level and across the continuum of operations.

9. I have virtually unlimited access to all levels of staff and is included in all levels of staff planning.

10. My commander is supportive of public affairs programs.

11. When a significant issue arises, my commander rarely brings public affairs into the decision.

12. My commander often includes public affairs at mission briefings/planning sessions.

13. My commander supports public affairs education and training for other members of his staff.

14. My commander views public affairs as "nice to do" but not a true mission requirement.

15. Public affairs is more of an afterthought than a forethought in my command.

16. My commander believes that a positive relationship with the civilian community is necessary for overall mission accomplishment.

17. My commander regularly participates in community relations events and encourages installation involvement in the community.

18. My commander believes that maximizing opportunities for interaction between people in my command and the community is important.

19. My commander has signed policy that establishes specific objectives and courses of action regarding community relations.

20. My commander seeks my advice regarding potential obstacles that could hinder my command's relationship with the surrounding civilian community.

21. My command has regular orientation visits or tours for the public or participates in such visits/tours.

22. My commander seeks opportunities to speak with public officials.

23. My commander and other staff members consult me on initiatives that may impact the community.

24. My commander welcomes seeks the opportunity to work with the media.

25. My commander believes command personnel should interact with the media during training or operations.

26. My commander believes information should be given to the media whether stories produced will be positive or supportive.

27. My commander believes that, consistent with national security, command personnel should give maximum cooperation to U.S. news representatives covering military accidents occurring outside military installations.

28. My commander believes that information should be withheld from the media to protect the command from criticism or embarrassment.

29. My commander sees the media as more of a nuisance than an opportunity to disseminate messages.

30. My commander feels that the military has an obligation to the media and the public to release as much information as possible as quickly as possible.

31. My commander incorporates news media training in all exercises.

32. My commander seeks my advice on any issue that can affect the command population.

33. My commander believes public affairs programs are important in keeping my command informed.

34. My commander believes that "bad" news should not be published in command-sponsored publications

35. My commander seeks my advice on initiatives that may impact people in my command.

36. The commander believes public affairs programs are important in keeping my command informed.

37. The commander urges staff members to consult public affairs on initiatives in their area that may impact people within the command.

38. The commander regularly contributes articles or editorial content to the command-sponsored publication.

39. The commander believes the public affairs program has a major role in the acceptance of service initiatives/policies in my command.