this authorization. Specify release authority in the public affairs plan or other guidance directives. 6. Rehearse CIB activation and operation.  Test the CIB plan periodically to determine its overall worth. You   can   check   its   effectiveness   as   part   of   your command’s  routine  administrative  inspection,  using  a developing  scenario  that  simulates  an  accident  or incident. CIB ESTABLISHMENT PLAN After advance CIB plans are in place, commit them to paper in the form of a directive. This is called the CIB establishment  plan.  The  plan  can  be  an  appendix  to  the larger  public  affairs  annex  to  the  operations  order. Appendices III and VI of this manual show examples of CIB  establishment  plans.  (The  CIB  plan  in  Appendix  VI is part of the decommissioning plan.) The public affairs annex to the operations order is the mission task statement used to plan operations during an exercise or contingency operation. It outlines goals, attempts to solve (in advance) any public affairs problems   that   may   arise   and   assigns   definite responsibilities   for   accomplishing   the   work   with detailed  instructions  for  carrying  it  out.  It  follows  the format used in the operation order and is signed by, and carries  the  authority  of,  the  commander. The  CIB  establishment  plan  outlines  the  purpose  of the CIB–when and where it will be established and under what authority, its organization, commands to furnish  personnel,  planned  movement  of  media representatives  and  observers  (in  general  terms), communications, news conferences, briefings and news releases.  It  also  specifies  support  requirements  placed on other commands. A  good  CIB  establishment  plan  provides  infor- mation  needed  for  the  mission  without  including material covered in regulations and manuals. It enables your office to be proactive rather than reactive and helps you control events, rather than have events control your operation. Follow  Guidance Normally, the overall goal of the CIB is to fulfill the public  affairs  mission  requirements  already  specified  by the commander and higher authority. You can find this guidance  in  the  following  sources: l PA Regs l  DoD  directives l l l l l Unified  command  (CINC)  guidance Country team or embassy or host nation public affairs  coordination Local  command  operations  plan  or  order Public  affairs  annex  of  the  next  higher headquarters  in  the  operational  chain Commander’s   guidance Determine  Public  Affairs  Objectives Once  you  determine  the  mission  of  the  command, you  must  determine  the  public  affairs  objectives.  You should find out what constraints will be imposed by higher   headquarters,   the   embassy   or   the   host government. Public affairs goals for a contingency plan or deployment of forces are often established at the national  command  authority  level.  Each  intermediate level could amplify the goals as they filter down to your level. Determine Procedures You must decide what procedures you will use to operate the CIB. To do this, you should review what public affairs resources are available, determine if you need more, and if so, where and how you can get them. As  stated  before,  determine  who  will  have  release authority and make it a matter of record in the command public   affairs   plan   or   other   directive.   You   must determine  the  location  of  the  CIB  and  what  its responsibilities  will  be.  You  will  need  to  decide  how  the media  members  will  receive  their  information,  and  how often.   You   should   also   determine   what   internal information requirements exist. TYPICAL CIB ORGANIZATION Learning Objective: Identify  the  organization  of  a typical  CIB. No two Navy commands are the same with regard to  structure,  SOPs,  personnel,  and  so  forth.  The  same holds true for CIBs. Every CIB has its own unique organization  and  personnel  mix,  depending  on  the  size, duration  and  news  media  interest  in  the  exercise, operation or major event. PA Regs offers a standard CIB organization from which to base your own. It is often formed under a senior PAO  and  includes  three  divisions:  media  relations, administrative  support  and  liaison. 3-2