FORT BENNING, Ga., (Feb. 4, 2015) -- The role of the media as it pertains to the Army was the topic of the latest edition of the Combat Leader Speaker Program, as Col. Steve Warren, the director of press operations for the Department of Defense, visited Fort Benning Jan. 28.
During his talk, Warren said future leaders must be prepared for media presence in the coming years.
"I think it's important to understand that media will be on the battlefield," he said. "Media will be on the training grounds. Media will be a part of the American Army's future for years to come. It's important for us to realize they're going to be there, and we absolutely have to engage them. Successful engagements come from good preparation, understanding your mission and the confidence that comes with knowing that we're doing the right thing.
"You have to look at the press in many ways like the weather. It's going to be there whether you want it or not. Some days it's sunny, some days it rains. Some days the press is there, some days they're not. Either way, you still have to do your mission."
While some Soldiers may be apprehensive about speaking to members of the press, Warren said leaders owe it to the American public to be forthright with information.
"Leaders in America's Army are responsible for the blood and treasure of our nation," he said. "We lead America's sons, daughters, fathers and mothers into war. We take them into harm's way. We spend millions and billions of American taxpayer dollars. It's our duty to inform the American public and our Family members and in many cases, the world, what it is that we're doing with human resources and physical resources. One of the most effective ways to communicate to our Families and to the American public in general is through the media. We can't shy away from describing our actions to the public. One of the very reasons we're fighting is for the press to have the very right to do what they do. We fight for freedom, and freedom of the press is one of those freedoms."
Warren also spoke about the growing role of social media, and said he has encouraged public affairs officers to develop guidelines that will allow Soldiers to discuss ongoing Army issues online.
"There is no better spokesman for the American Army than the American Soldier," he said. "I believe it's important that we let them speak. We want to equip them with the tools they need to be able to effectively and succinctly communicate what we're doing, but if we equip our troops and leaders with the information they need, they should be able to use that information. That will help us bridge a gap and connect with the American public."
For those Soldiers who have never interfaced with a member of the media, Warren offered a few tips.
"First, you have to understand what your mission is," Warren said. "You have to know what you're doing, what your intent is and what the intent is of command up to two levels higher. Be familiar with that."
He also said Soldiers should not be afraid to dictate the terms of the conversation.
"You can drive the discussion," he said. "You control that conversation. You talk about what you want to talk about. You talk about what you're doing, what your unit is doing and what your mission is. You don't let them get you off track on that."
Finally, he encouraged Soldiers to give short, but truthful, answers.
"If you ramble and meander and move around, it's very difficult for a reporter to understand what you're talking about," Warren said. "Keep your answers short and crisp and stick to the facts. You may have a list of talking points, which are nice to review, but what you need to do is stick to the facts. As long as you stick to the facts, that reporter is going to be glad they talked to you, the American public is going to be glad they heard from you and your chain of command is going to be proud of you for executing the mission."
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