NOTE: The FHTNC does not process feature
stories.
APPROPRIATE HOMETOWN TIES
For purposes of this section, the term hometown
refers to the place of residence of the sea service
member’s immediate next of kin, a spouse’s immediate
next of kin, and when appropriate, college alumni
publication. Other suitable hometown ties include
another blood relative, or an in-law or legal guardian
living in a community in the United States or its
possessions.
INAPPROPRIATE HOMETOWN TIES
You must not use spouses, dependent children or
friends as hometown ties. This will eliminate the
possibility of harassment if official duties require the
service member to be away from his residence on a
regular basis.
PROMOTING THE FLEET HOME
TOWN NEWS PROGRAM
LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Describe the
methods used to promote the Fleet Home Town
News Program.
Participation in the Fleet Home Town News
Program by individual service members is strictly
voluntary. Nonetheless, you should present it in a
positive reamer to encourage involvement. While some
people may not be interested in the “publicity,” their
relatives and friends back home probably are interested.
Soft sell the program, but do attempt to sell it. If an
individual still chooses not to participate, honor the
person’s decision and do not forward the release form
to the FHTNC.
You can sell the program in the following ways:
Run Plan of the Day notes.
Make SITE-TV spot announcements.
Make promotional spot announcements on ship’s
radio.
Ask the CO, XO or C/MC to make promotional
announcements during Captain’s Call.
Promote the program during command
indoctrination classes (“I” Division).
17-4
PROCESSING FHTNC MATERIALS
LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Recognize the
correct method of processing FHTNC
materials.
The success of the Fleet Home Town News Program
depends on your continuous, active support. Therefore,
you should give the people at your command ample
opportunities to participate in the program and you
should encourage future involvement. A good starting
point for you to solicit participation is when military
members first report to your command, so make sure the
public affairs office is on the command check-in sheet.
FLEET HOME TOWN NEWS
RELEASE FORM
At first glance, conducting a home town news
program appears to be a monumental task. However,
closer observation reveals it is a relatively simple
process in terms of meeting public affairs objectives.
The FHTNC has simplified the procedures for
submitting home town news material by designing a
standard release form, the Fleet Home Town News
Release Form, NAVSO 5724/1 (Rev. 8-88). You must
use this release form for all home town news releases.
NOTE: Contact the Center or check SECNAVINST
5724.3 series for the most current release form revision
date.
When properly completed (mostly by the individual
about whom the release is being made), the release form
contains all the information necessary for writers at the
FHTNC to prepare the homeowner. Figure 17-2A is an
example of a completed NAVSO 5724/1. The reverse
side of the release form (fig. 17-2B) carries block-by-
block instructions. For this reason, we will not provide
a block-by-block breakdown of the release form.
The NAVSO 5724/1 was designed to give
uniformity to the Fleet Home Town News Program and
to accelerate the processing of home town news
releases. They are available through the Navy supply
system, so maintaining an adequate number of them
should be easy. However, if you run out of release forms,
you may use locally produced copies until your stock is
replenished. The information may be typed or printed.
NOTE: The FHTNC should receive completed
release forms no later than 30 days after the event occurs
(allowances are made for submarines). After the release
forms are processed and the subsequent news releases
