It  is  Monday  morning,  and  the  pace  begins  to quicken in the office. The PAO is on leave, and you are on your way to brief the CO on several public affairs matters. With one foot out the door, JO3 Boate asks you several questions regarding the new press release format you  instituted  Friday.  While  answering  her  questions, JOSN Dory, who is tasked with writing a similar release, asks  you  a  style  question  regarding  military  titles. Meanwhile, JO2 Arts requests assistance in retrieving the  sample  change  of  command  release  on  the  computer because  his  “access  has  been  denied.” All three areas could have easily been addressed during an “all-hands” training session at a less hectic time.  Subject:  preparing  press  releases. ROLE OF THE SENIOR JO As a senior JO in charge of a public affairs office, you are responsible for making sure your subordinates are properly trained. You are responsible to the PAO for administering and monitoring a training program that keeps your staff sharp and on the cutting edge of the journalism profession. By providing your staff with the latest  information  and  methods,  your  efforts  will unquestionably  boost  efficiency  and  professionalism. Although you are responsible for administrating and monitoring the training program, you should not envision yourself as the sole “trainer.” When you select your training topics (using the occupational standards in the  Advancement  Handbook  for  Petty  Officers  for  the JOs as your guide), assign members of your staff to conduct  the  training  on  a  rotating  basis.  Have  the assigned instructor develop a lesson plan and show it to you at least two days before the training session, and check for thoroughness. (Be sure to include yourself in the  rotation!) APPROPRIATION OF TIME Training is most effective when it is held on the same day and time each week. There are several factors you  should  consider  before  selecting  the  day  and  time for training, such as work schedules and deadlines, general   military   training   schedules   and   other commitments. Of course, even if you determine that Wednesday at 1400 is the best day and time to assemble your  troops  for  a  one-hour  training  session,  a  priority project or an unplanned event can arise and throw your program   off   kilter.   When   appropriating   time   for professional  training,  keep  the  following  points  in  mind: l l l To give some thought to primary and secondary training days and times. To never cancel a training session because of work  commitments;  postpone  them. To  be  flexible. CHARACTERISTICS  OF  PROPER LOCATION The public affairs office aboard the USS  Birdfarm is located on the second deck, just below the after brow, where  the  boatswain’s  mates  of  first  division  are removing paint and rust with needle guns, grinders, sanders and handscrapers. The noise has reached a deafening level and your conversation with the first division  officer  confirms  your  worst  fears:  the  work will continue through 1600. Your 1400 training session with the staff is five minutes away. Obviously,  your  designated  trainer  and  the  trainees will  have  an  extremely  difficult  time  speaking  and hearing in this environment because this situation is in no way conducive to learning. That is why the office supervisor must select the training site as carefully as the  topics  and  methods  of  training.  The  supervisor,  in this  case,  may  or  may  not  have  known  about  the scheduled  deck  work  just  on  the  other  side  of  the overhead.  Regardless  of  the  circumstances,  an  alternate location should have been identified ardor reserved, such as a conference room, administration office or even the  mess  decks. Training ashore offers a wider variety of settings and  locations.  Using  your  existing  office  spaces  for training is fine, but as a diversion, also consider training the staff at a different location on base or even off base. This will stimulate learning and maintain interest in your training  program. For instance, your training topic in two weeks is on preparing  news  releases  for  local  radio  stations.  Instead of just reviewing the release format and procedures in the office, you can call the news director at one of the stations, briefly discuss your training intentions, and request  a  representative  to  discuss  their  newsroom operations with your staff at the station. In most cases, newsroom  directors,  general  managers  and  other  media authority figures will be delighted to honor your request. A major distraction during any training session is the constant ringing of the telephones and visitors who wander into the office to conduct business. You can deal with  this  in  the  following  ways:  (1)  turn  on  the answering machine for the duration of your training 1-11