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UPAR Training
Unit Public Affairs Representative
Angela Simpson
Deputy Public Information Officer, JFHQ
Photographer, writer, media liaison extraordinaire
Are UPARs Necessary?
A crucial piece to the Public Affairs’ mission is to
celebrate Guard service and accomplishment by
getting the word out to media.
UPARs know about those accomplishments first
hand. Therefore, UPARs are vital if we want the
public to support our National Guard.
It is not feasible for JFHQ to send someone to every
unit for every award, promotion, community event,
etc. That is where the UPAR can step in and help.
Outline
• Unit Level Public Affairs
• Unit Public Affairs Representatives
• Hometown News Release Program
• Photography
• Media as a partner
Vocabulary
• UPAR
• Unit Public Affairs Representative
• UPAR Roster
• List of UPARs by MSC by unit
• HTNR
• Hometown News Release
• HTNR Tracker
• Record of all UPAR news releases
• Commanders Report Card
• MSC leaders are evaluated in part on UPAR performance
• Media Escort
• Event liaison between Guard members and media representatives
Unit Level Public Affairs
• Tell your unit’s good news stories
• Engage your local media
• Invite them to your armory and community events your
units is participating in (blood drive, food servers, secret
Santa delivery, 5Ks, parades, 4-H judging, etc.)
• Coordinate with the State PAO:
* If news is negative or sensitive, call Public Affairs
* If it is a major event, call Public Affairs
Unit Level Public Affairs
Before/During/After Deployment
• Before
Rumors/No Alert Order = NO GO
Alert Order = GO
I’m trying to pack! = Call PAO
PAO will:
- Handle your media calls
- Prepare and send the press release
- Send photographer/media escort to your departure ceremony
- Invite the governor to your departure ceremony
Unit Level Public Affairs
Before/During/After Deployment
• During
- Follow higher HQ SOP
- Send photos and stories to PAO for the Wolverine Guard
- [email protected]
Unit Level Public Affairs
Before/During/After Deployment
• After
- Continue to talk to the reporter who interviewed you at the
homecoming ceremony
- Continue to tell your story – this time with HISTORY
Unit Public Affairs Representatives
• Recognize Soldiers in hometown
newspapers
• Take photos during unit
exercises/events
•Provide media contacts and
escort on occasion
Hometown News Release
• The primary UPAR responsibility is writing/sending HTNRs
• Send out a HTNR on your unit members for: pomotions, awards,
retirements, new unit members (enlistment or transfer), other
events
Why do we need a HTNR program?
• Celebrate, share good news with family and friends
• Build, maintain and strengthen morale and readiness
• Enhance public trust and support
• Contribute to global influence and deterrence
• Remind the public of Guard service
“Public sentiment is everything. With
public sentiment, nothing can fail.
Without it, nothing can succeed.”
--Abraham Lincoln
UPARs shape public sentiment
HTNR Basics
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New enlistment, transfer
Promotion
Training
Awards
Return from Deployment
Retirement
Prepare HTNR
• Go to http://upar.minationalguard.com/htnr
• Fill out the correct for and click “Submit”
In addition to HTNRs
• Wolverine Guard stories
• Web publications (News feed)
• Set up interviews; ComCast Newsmakers (CNN), local
TV/Independent cable shows (Owosso)
• Event / Deployment History
• Always loop in the PAO on special projects
Working with the Media
• See pocket guide
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Who talks to media
Rule of thumb
Operational Security
When being interviewed
Mission specific PA guidance
Media Do’s and Don’ts
• Do get as many details as you can about what they
are looking for
• Do try and review information for clarity, civilians
need lots of explanation!
• Do use AP Style when writing wherever possible to
make it easy for media to publish
• Do double check spelling and facts
• Don’t say anything to a reporter “off the record”
remember to stay in your lane, talk about what you
know and refrain from offering your opinion on
policy decisions.
• Do refer calls you are not comfortable with to PAO
(517) 481-8141
Typically media assignments will fall out of
your duty scope – however, you should be
prepared as in any mission, to find a way to
make it work!
Find UPAR Training materials at
http://upar.minationalguard.com