35P3 Career Guide
35P3: Public Affairs Officer
Career transition guide for Air Force Public Affairs Officer (35P3)
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Top civilian roles for 35P3 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.
Public Relations Manager
Communications Director
Marketing Manager
Skills to develop:
Emergency Management Specialist
Skills to develop:
Technical Writer
Skills to develop:
Salary estimates from VWC career data
Hidden Strengths
Cognitive skills your 35P3 training built — and where they transfer.
Situational Awareness
This role demands constant vigilance regarding public sentiment, media narratives, and community relationships. You're always scanning the horizon for potential PR crises or opportunities.
In the civilian world, this translates to a keen ability to understand the context surrounding a business or organization, anticipate challenges, and identify potential avenues for growth or improvement.
Rapid Prioritization
In crisis communication, you must quickly assess the severity of the situation, identify key stakeholders, and determine the most effective response strategy under pressure and with limited information.
This skill is vital in dynamic business settings where urgent issues constantly arise. You can efficiently triage tasks, allocate resources, and maintain composure amidst chaos.
Team Synchronization
You coordinate diverse teams, including media liaisons, graphic designers, broadcast personnel, and community representatives, ensuring everyone is aligned and working towards a unified communication strategy.
This ability to orchestrate the efforts of various individuals and departments is highly valuable in any collaborative project. You excel at fostering clear communication, shared goals, and efficient workflows.
Adversarial Thinking
The role requires you to anticipate how the media or public might react negatively to certain information or actions, allowing you to proactively develop counter-strategies and mitigate potential damage.
This critical thinking skill translates into your ability to identify potential risks and challenges in any project or situation, allowing you to develop proactive solutions and contingency plans, improving overall outcomes.
Non-Obvious Career Matches
Brand Reputation Manager
SOC 11-2011You've been responsible for shaping and protecting the image of a military organization. As a Brand Reputation Manager, you'll use those same skills to manage a company's public perception, address crises, and cultivate positive brand awareness.
Lobbyist
SOC 11-2011You've honed your skills in navigating complex relationships with government agencies and community leaders. You're adept at understanding policy and communication strategies. As a lobbyist, you'll leverage these abilities to advocate for specific causes or organizations, influencing policy decisions at various levels of government.
Public Relations Consultant
SOC 13-1111You've already executed full-scale public affairs programs, and understand strategic communication from all angles. As a consultant, you'll apply your expertise to advise businesses and organizations on their communication strategies, crisis management, and public image.
Training & Education Equivalencies
Defense Information School (DINFOS), Fort Meade, MD
Topics Covered
- •Public Affairs Planning
- •Media Relations
- •Community Engagement
- •Crisis Communication
- •Internal Communication Strategies
- •Visual Information (Photography/Videography)
- •Public Speaking and Briefing Techniques
- •Social Media Management
Certification Pathways
Partial Coverage
Requires study of specific public relations principles, ethics, and best practices as defined by the public relations profession. Focus on current trends and technologies in PR.
Needs additional study in strategic communication planning, research, and measurement as they relate to civilian PR campaigns. Requires passing an examination and presenting a portfolio.
Recommended Next Certifications
Technical Systems Translation
Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) | Multimedia content hosting and distribution platforms (e.g., YouTube, Vimeo, Flickr) |
| Public Affairs Automated Management System (PAAMS) | Public Relations Management Software (e.g., Meltwater, Cision) |
| SharePoint | Collaborative document management and team collaboration platforms (e.g., Google Workspace, Microsoft 365) |
| Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) | Broadcast media production and distribution (e.g., commercial radio/TV networks) |
| Base Information Transfer System (BITS) | Internal communication and notification systems (e.g., email marketing platforms, intranet portals) |
| Joint Information System (JIS) | Emergency notification and public alerting systems |
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