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Military Public Affairs Officers

Military Career

General Information

Description

Public Affairs Officers research, plan, budget, execute, and evaluate operations involving the public. They liaise with the news media and provide guidance to senior leaders on decisions that impact mission success. They also collect and present information to internal staff on current operations and matters affecting the military community.

Explore this career outside the Military

Work Environment

Public affairs officers usually work in offices.

Comparable Industries

  • Marketing

Related Military Careers

No Information for this section

Military Outlook

Service Branches

Jobs in this career field may be available in other service branches. Call or email a particular branch for more info.

Military Status

  • Officer
    • Managerial/professional
    • College degree required

Military Workforce

Public Affairs Officers in the Military

3,226

No Information for this section

Salary

Salary Information

Median Military Salary This is the median, or the midpoint, of the salary range for this career.

$118,375

Military Salary Range Salary varies based on years of service, degree level, special pays, family status and location. Learn more about Military benefits.

$26,872 - $276,140

What makes up a Military salary?

Military salaries include a lot more than just base pay.

They also offer:

  • Housing allowances
  • Subsistence allowances
  • Special and incentive pays
  • Cost-of-living allowances
  • Hazardous-duty pay
  • Bonuses

Learn more about what goes into a salary with the compensation estimator

Learn more about military insurance and retirement benefits

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Education

Military training

Officers typically enter the Military after they have completed a four-year college degree; enlisted service members can transition to officer positions through a variety of pathways and earn a degree while serving. Job training for public affairs officers primarily consists of classroom instruction and on-the-job learning in various training environments. Like other officers, they complete a comprehensive training program covering responsibilities, military structure and etiquette, traditions, and leadership development. Job-specific training content may include: Department of Defense policiesPrinciples of public information and community relationsDeveloping communication strategiesMedia relations and community relations programsSpeech writing and public speaking Military-media relations

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Military training

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Officers typically enter the Military after they have completed a four-year college degree; enlisted service members can transition to officer positions through a variety of pathways and earn a degree while serving. Job training for public affairs officers primarily consists of classroom instruction and on-the-job learning in various training environments. Like other officers, they complete a comprehensive training program covering responsibilities, military structure and etiquette, traditions, and leadership development. Job-specific training content may include:

  • Department of Defense policies
  • Principles of public information and community relations
  • Developing communication strategies
  • Media relations and community relations programs
  • Speech writing and public speaking
  • Military-media relations

Related College Majors

Select major to see colleges that offer it

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Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.