Home  /  BALTIC AMBER Magazine  /  NOT A SINGLE AVERAGE DAY BEING A PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER WITH A MULTINATIONAL BATTLEGROUP

As the Public Affairs Officer, it is my job to advise the enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) Battlegroup Commander on public affairs issues, deal with media requests, and post on and monitor the Battle Group’s social media accounts. It requires the ability to step back and look at the larger picture, understand the effect of what I write and which images I choose, and align it with NATO’s overarching direction.

To say that the invasion of Ukraine has complicated this would not understate it. It has become even more necessary to ensure that what comes out of the Battlegroup supports the important work of my fellow public affairs officers at Multinational Corps Northeast, Joint Force Command Brunssum, and Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), to name a few. It can be a heady feeling to act as part of an international partnership on the scale of NATO. It has been said here that the Battlegroup is in many ways a Strategic Communications (STRATCOM) mission – that part of our purpose here is to be a visible, credible, and transparent force in support of Latvia and the Baltic States. This is even truer in the current context, and I have been proud to support that mission in any way as part of eFP Battlegroup Latvia.

I have also had the opportunity to learn a great deal from a variety of nations in the Battlegroup, something I would never have had the chance to do at home. The motto of the Battlegroup is “Vienotībā Spēks” (Strength in Unity), and we prove that here, every day. Watching the different nations come together, work together and learn from each other has been immensely gratifying. Whether it is basic language and customs, different national doctrines and equipment or the friendships that have sprung up across national borders or oceans of distance, it is an experience that I will always cherish.

public affairs team with nato efp battlegroup latvia during Summer shield DV DAY LIVE FIRE DEMOnstration. Photo by MCpl Rod Doucet, Canadian Armed Forces

As the Public Affairs Officer for the eFP Battlegroup Latvia, I have dealt with three different chains of command, liaising with 11 different contingents within the Battlegroup, all while managing the capture of imagery by one Canadian and one Spanish imagery technician, dealing with media queries, requests for interviews, and VIP visits.

As a communicator on behalf of the Battle Group, it has been necessary to liaise with each nation in order to respect their individual requirements – from something as simple as what images of individual members can be used, to what capabilities they bring to the Battlegroup, to how we can support them in terms of messaging or imagery to share with their counterparts at home. The eFP Battlegroup concept is essentially ‘plug-and-play’, with each contingent bringing a specific capability to support the whole. It is not hyperbole to say that each contingent also brings something different in terms of culture and doctrine, and it has been a pleasure to support and demonstrate that. Of course, there are problems to overcome, whether it is a cultural difference, a misunderstanding of language or a poor translation, but in the end we are all here, together, on behalf of NATO, deterring any aggression and showing our resolve.

I would describe my average day, but there really are not any ‘average’ days. On a given day, I might be in meetings with Latvian or NATO counterparts discussing STRATCOM; in the field supervising image technicians filming tanks or artillery; liaising with higher headquarters or flanking units about events happening outside of Latvia; or escorting media on base to do interviews and capture imagery. Beyond the chance to do my job in an international, deployed environment, I have met several Prime Ministers, a couple of Presidents and the Secretary General of NATO – certainly a distinguished list. From the military side I have met the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States, the Canadian Chief of the Defence Staff, the Commander of the Joint Headquarters of Latvia, and Chiefs of Defence from several NATO nations. I have worked with reporters from news agencies from around the world, both at home in Canada and internationally. It has been a delight to be able to share an interview a member of the Battlegroup has done with them, particularly when they are able to then share that with their families at home. Showing what we do, especially down to an individual’s role, has been something I have enjoyed greatly. To put a human face on what we do here and across NATO has been, I think, one of our most important tasks.

Of course as John Donne said, “no man is an island”, and this is never more accurate than in the context of the military. The imagery technicians I have worked with, Master Corporal (OR-5) Rodney Doucet and Sargento (OR-6) Fernando Ndiaye, have made my job all the easier. I have been able to ask them to go out and capture the Battlegroup in pictures and video, and they have done an extraordinary job, often under less than ideal circumstances. We have also received assistance from Master Corporal (OR-5) Michael MacIsaac of the Riga-based Task Force Latvia, who has supported us with exemplary video editing and drone footage. I would also mention Sergeant (OR-6) Jennifer Kusche, who came to support the public affairs section while OR-5 Doucet was on leave. I cannot put into words how proud I am of what they have accomplished. So much stellar imagery that is a veritable embarrassment of riches.

It has not just been about the work, either. As I said in a social media post early in this rotation, Latvia is a beautiful country. I have had the chance to see a lot of it, from here in Ādaži to locations across the country. While the COVID-19 pandemic initially prevented some travel, we have since been able to visit the nearby capital of Riga, a wonderful city steeped in history (for someone like myself, an absolute must to see). The people of Latvia have been consistently welcoming and kind, and it has been an honour to be here both on behalf of NATO and in defence of their nation. I have been keenly interested in their opinions on our presence here, both professionally and personally, and I must say I could not imagine a more hospitable and generous people.

Deploying as the enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup Latvia PAO was not something I expected to do, but I have to say that it has been an amazing opportunity. The people, the country, the experience, is something I will keep close to my heart for the rest of my life. The friendships will continue into the future, and the memories will stay with me always. I am deeply gratified and proud both of the eFP and the work we have done here. Vienotībā Spēks!