Encampment Cadet PAOs learn the ropes

On Saturday May 16, 2009, the Encampment Senior Public Affairs staff conducted a full day of training to help the cadet PAOs become familiar with the equipment and procedures for PA activities at the 2009 summer encampment.

In attendance were the following:

C/SMSgt Micah Larson (Cadet PAO Trainee)
C/CMSgt Tim Johnson (Cadet PAO Trainee)

C/CMSgt Sierra Larson (Cadet Staff/Trainer)
C/Lt Col Barry Feinstein (Cadet Staff/Trainer)

Capt Paul Twiddy ( Encampment Asst PAO)
Maj Conrad D'Cruz (Encampment PAO)

The eight hour session covered the basics of Public Affairs and what is expected of a Public Affairs Officer.

The senior staff were assisted by two of the Encampment cadet staff; C/Lt Col Barry Feinstein and C/CMSgt Sierra Larson were on hand to provide background information and training on Encampment procedures as well as make recommendations on what activities will need detailed Public Affairs assistance.

Asst Encampment PAO, Capt Paul Twiddy provided in-depth technical training in the use of cutting edge digital technology to help bring to life the tasks of reporting encampment activities.

Maj Conrad D'Cruz, Encampment PAO provided an overview of the Public Affairs functions and also emphasized that all staff need to adhere to the safety guidelines in the execution of their duties.

The following topics were covered:

Writing news releases, basics of event reporting, conducting interviews, video interviewing skills, handling video cameras, digital pictures, online media (blogs, Twitter, YouTube, picasaweb).

The cadets were given classroom instructions and exercises consisted of live scenarios.

A summary session was conducted at the end of the day, where the cadet PAOs got a recap of the day's events and discussed what they had learned from the exercises.

A survey conducted the day after the session identified areas the cadet PAOs believed they needed additional information and training in.



C/CMSgt Sierra Larson (center) and C/Lt Col Barry Feinstein (right) (Cadet Staff/Trainers), conduct a peer review of a news release written by the Cadet Encampment PAOs, C/SMSgt Micah Larson (left) and C/CMSgt Tim Johnson (standing).











C/CMSgt Tim Johnson (left) studies the controls of a digital camera while C/Lt Col Barry Feinstein (right) reviews the news release written by the cadet PAOs.








C/SMSgt Micah Larson (right) gets ready to take a picture with a digital camera as C/CMSgt Sierra Larson (left) leans over to assist with the framing of the shot.









A panoramic view of all the high-tech digital equipment and Encampment staff setting up cameras for the cadet PAO training.

In the background Encampment PAOs Maj Conrad D'Cruz and Capt Paul Twiddy run a final inspection of the digital mixers and cameras.








Capt Paul Twiddy putting the finishing touches on the digital setup for the training of cadet PAOs.










C/SMSgt Micah Larson (right) getting ready for her debut as a public affairs news reporter as Capt. Paul Twiddy starts the camera rolling.