what is a soldier allowed to do or say when they are approach by the press and how do they refer to?
The basic guidlines have usually been that no soldier (or any military person for that matter) is allowed to discuss things with the press unless they have been given specific permission to do so. Usually, all inquiries by the press are to be directed to the authorised public affairs officer or civilian liaison officer. Most often, permission is not given unless there is a specific public affairs event happening such as soldiers being used to help in a search rescue operation with the local police, then they may be allowed to speak about how they are helping the effort. Military personnel are told to treat the press respectfully but to politely refuse to answer any questions and normally, the No comment remark is the best answer to anything they ask. Most of the time military personnel are not given permission to discuss anything with the press because the press will take any little piece of information and use it to make up a story and they aren't too bothered with telling lies to make the story better. The military obviously has a very large need for security and any little bit of info that the press gets could jeopardise that security.
The best thing to do is refer them to public affairs. (That is the Air Foce terminology) That way you will be covered because as far as I am concerned reporters only write the stories that want to write, and they will manipulate your words to get that story. Even the different papers that are related to the military will change the meaning of your words.
You have no opinion is the best thing to say and what you are expected to say by the military. Regulations require you to contact Public Affairs if you are contacted by the press before talking or giving your opinion on something and that way they keep you and themselves from any controversy that otherwise might be created.
PAO or public affairs officer should be contacted immediately, in the army it's usually an E-7 and above, or mostly an officer O-3 and above, some soldiers can say stupid things without thinking before they talk
I am assuming that every military base is like Australia and any information given to the Press is done By a Public Relations Officer or equivalent I refused to talk to them after all the Rubbish printed about the Military In England related to Ban the Bomb Marches and how they were treated Fact Military On inside Fence Police and Protesters on outside and those on inside NEVER NEVER got in contact with Protesters the Americans Used Fire Hoses on anyone climbing on fence and were arrested for trespassing
