MENU

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.

Explore this career outside the military

Work Environment

Public affairs officers usually work in offices.

Workplace at a Glance

What you can expect to experience while on the job

  • Responsibility
  • Exposure to job hazards
  • Physical activity
  • Decision making
  • Repetitiveness
  • Level of competition
  • Time pressure

Comparable Industries

  • Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
  • Management of Companies and Enterprises
  • Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services

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

  • Enlisted
    • Hands-on/specialized
    • High school diploma required
  • Officer
    • Managerial/professional
    • College degree required

Military Workforce

Public Affairs Officers in the Military

1,636

No Information for this section

Salary

Average Salary

$85,357

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

No Information for this section

Education

Most Common Education Levels

People in this career achieve this level of education.

  • Bachelor's degree 72%
  • Some college 11%
  • Master's degree 6%
  • Post baccalaureate 4%
  • Post-master's certificate 4%
  • High school 0%
  • Doctoral degree 0%
  • Associate's degree 0%
  • Less than high school 0%
  • Post-doctoral training 0%
  • First professional degree 0%
  • Post-secondary certificate 0%

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

Read More

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 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

Knowledge

  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Sales and Marketing
  • English Language
  • Communications and Media
  • Administration and Management

Skills at a Glance

Skills helpful in this career

  • Verbal skills
  • Critical thinking & problem solving
  • Equipment operation & maintenance
  • Math & science skills
  • Technology design & control
  • Leadership
No Information for this section

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.