Public Affairs
Provide strategic counsel, operational planning, and tactical execution of communication as a function of the Air Force mission, joint combat operations, and national security objectives.

Broadcasting
Support Air Force strategic communication objectives by producing high-quality products and programming services that are informative and entertaining for audiences worldwide.

The U.S. Air Force engages in Public Affairs to provide trusted counsel to leaders; build, maintain, and strengthen Airman morale and readiness; enhance public trust and support; and achieve global influence and deterrence. The triad of Public Affairs practitioners, bandsmen, and broadcasters is dedicated to executing the Public Affairs mission for the Air Force. The triad uses its resources to research, plan, execute, and evaluate communication strategies and tactics.

It is the responsibility of all Airmen to tell the Air Force story. Whether they're representing their base at a community function or representing the U.S. in a wartime or contingency operation, all Airmen are front-line ambassadors for the Air Force. It is imperative for the Public Affairs triad to prepare all Airmen to be credible, intelligent, and articulate spokespersons for the Air Force.

The five Public Affairs core competencies are directly linked to the Air Force Core Competencies. The core competencies provide the Public Affairs triad with the vision to integrate information into operations at home and in an expeditionary role. The core competencies are supported by five key processes and process improvements constituting the way the Air Force conducts Public Affairs.

These five competencies are:

• Trusted Counsel to Leaders
• Airman Morale and Readiness
• Public Trust and Support
• Global Influence and Deterrence
• Public Affairs Readiness

Visual Information is information in the form of visual representations of persons, places, and/or things. VI professionals create, develop record, assemble, and enhance visual and audio data into meaningful information. VI includes still photography, motion photography, audio, video, computer-based products, and graphics. VI excludes alphabetic, symbolic, or coded data. VI production is the process of structuring data from two or more media into a cohesive linear or non-linear format or product according to a plan or a script.

VI materials generated or acquired by Air Force members, employees, or contractors in conducting official duties are the property of the United States Air Force. Personal use of VI materials for sale or any other reason not directly related to an official Air Force activity is prohibited. Use of personally-owned or self-help equipment requires users to adhere to operational security, PA, historical archiving, and information security guidelines.

Photography and video are essential elements of internal and external communication programs. Imagery conveys the mission of the Air Force internal and external audiences and helps achieve the PA core competencies of Airman morale and readiness, public trust and support, and global influence and deterrence.