US military learns Ukrainian to work with media

The US Army 173 Brigade, which is now work as instructors, more than once participated in the annual international exercises at the Yavoriv training ground "Rapid Trident".

However, there has never been such an interest in training from the media professionals as this year. Of course, the reason is the fighting in the east of Ukraine, as well as the critical attitude of the Russian authorities towards them.

If the Western press informs about what is happening at the test site, what program Ukrainian fighters are studying, what they want to learn, what is special about the eight-week program, then Russian media are mostly looking for negative, calling these exercises “propaganda”, which supposedly landed in Lviv American troops, ”and indeed they question the effectiveness of military training.

Lt. Col. Kyle Reed, commander of the US 173 Airmobile Brigade, says he doesn’t track publications in the Russian media. “I'm not worried about what they write there. I don’t follow press releases or publications about myself, because it doesn’t change why I'm here, but I'm here to help and conduct classes. ”

More than 200 media representatives covered the opening of joint Ukrainian-American exercises. Several representatives of the Russian media, the Ukrainian side is not accredited. However, some journalists from Ukraine got to the test site and worked for the Russian media, transmitting distorted information, as well as trying to manipulate the opinion of the National Guard.

Need to learn to communicate with the media

The American military men declare that they are completely open for communication with journalists, but they understand that the exercises take place on the territory belonging to the Ministry of Defense, therefore Ukrainian journalists should coordinate their visit to the exercises with the Ukrainian side.

In the American Army, a press officer is responsible for working with the media, but the unit commander is obliged to provide information to journalists. Soldiers are allowed to communicate with media workers, if the issue is not within their competence, then they explain it. Usually, the US military are open to communication, in contrast to the Ukrainian, who require coordination with the leadership. And the Ukrainian officer, as a rule, is afraid to talk to a journalist if the senior officer did not give permission. American servicemen are taught how to work with the media, and this experience is not superfluous for Ukraine.

“Every mission we undertake is carried out with appropriate training in the field of public relations and this includes not only cooperation with the media, but also what information can be posted on social networks. We don’t forbid them to do this, but we ask them to think carefully about what they teach and want to convey to those who will read it,” emphasized Kyle Reed.

Ukrainian and American fighters have been training for a week at the Yavoriv training ground. The Americans highly appreciate the military experience of the Ukrainian fighters who visited the combat zone in the Donbas. The main focus during the exercise is focused on individual training.
The first stage of preparation will be completed in June, and the next group of national guard will arrive at the training ground. Representatives of the Armed Forces oversee training.