To function as a member in a military staff, you need the tools and the knowledge of how to act as a team player. Long days and even longer evenings have been the reality of the 27 students at SWEDINT. During a week they have been learning how to function in their role as a Public Affairs Officer.
Lectures and group tasks eventually lead up to a final exercise, where participants needed to act out a scenario taking place in a fictional country.
- My impression was that the role play had a very real feel to it. felt like I was participating in a real event, says the international student Wrnt Off Kelly Yeo from Singapore.
Other important knowledge that was given the students was for instance how to write a press release and how to perform at an interview, but also how to prepare others to be interviewed.
-As a journalist I think it is really valuable that the future Public Affairs Officers learn the tools and work methods of journalist, says Line Juliane Ronne from the Danish Armed Forces.
During the beginning of the course, the famous publisher Joseph Pulitzer view on how a message should be brought to the intended audience was quoted.
"Put it before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it and, above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light."
Hopefully, this message will also guide the 27 new Public Affairs Officers in their future line of work.
Sr Swedish student IntPAO 2012
Commander Niklas Johansson, SwAF.