programs  are  a  proven  means  of  developing  “grass roots” understanding and support for our defense force. AUTHORITY Community   relations   are   authorized   and   en- couraged within the DoD for the following purposes (subject to operational requirements, the significance of the event or program in relation to other DoD programs and  cost  considerations): l l l l Informing the public on the state of preparedness of the DoD and to show United States partnership with  allies Developing  public  understanding  of  and cooperation  with  the  DoD  in  its  community relations  programs Promoting  national  security  and  stimulating patriotic  spirit Helping  recruiting  and  personnel  procurement programs of the armed forces Within the DoD, ASD(PA) is appointed to act for the SECDEF in planning and implementing the DoD community   relations   program.   Secretaries   of   the military  departments,  commanders  of  unified  and specified commands and the directors of the defense agencies   are   responsible   for   effective   community relations.   Officers   in   command   at   all   levels   are responsible  for  giving  positive  emphasis  to  the importance  of  good  community  relations  in  the execution of their mission. Within the office of ASD(PA), the directorate of community  relations  is  responsible  for  the  overall planning,  implementation  and  coordination  of  com- munity   relations   within   the   DoD.   For   Navy implementation  of  this  program  and  current  CHINFO policy guidance, refer to  PA Regs, Chapter 4. PARTS OF A COMMUNITY RELATIONS PROGRAM Learning  Objective: Identify  the  key  parts  of  a community  relations  program. Among the main parts of a community relations program  are  publics,  communication  channels  and community  relations  projects  designed  to  accomplish  an organization’s goals in the community. PUBLICS Collectively, a Navy command’s public consists of many groups. Among the principal local publics that a command should be concerned with are both internal and external publics. Internal You were introduced to the Navy internal audience in Chapter 1. These groups are also part of the Navy’s internal public. The following groups round out the Navy’s internal public: l l l l l U.S.  Naval  Academy  midshipmen NROTC   midshipmen Military  auxiliary  organizations Career  civilian  employees Families of the above segments External External  publics  consist  of  the  following  groups: l l l l l l l l l l l l The general public Community   organizations   (civic,   trade,   in- dustrial,  veterans,  fraternal,  youth,  women, religious,  educational) Congress Members  of  committees  involved  in  armed services  matters Alumni of the armed forces Key  governmental  officials Local  government  officials News  media Professional organizations Well-known  local  businesses Professional   people Elder  statesmen COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS The  tools  and  techniques  of  public  affairs  offer almost as many ways of reaching community publics as there are publics. The “how-to-do-it” instructions for 5-3