Photo By Capt. Kalen Arreola | Spc. Nicole M. Harvieux, administrative specialist and unit public affairs...... read more read more
RAPID CITY, S.D. — Gathering information from service members in the field can be challenging, especially when people are scattered across 3,312 square-miles, like the Golden Coyote training exercise area, or a story breaks when there are no public affairs personnel there to capture it.
Unit Public Affairs Representatives, like Spc. Nicole M. Harvieux of the 109th Regional Support Group of Rapid City, S.D., can help tell Soldiers' stories by writing press releases, establishing a rapport with local media, and keeping the public affairs office informed of the unit's current events.
"My chain of command asked for volunteers to be the unit photographer and I volunteered," said Harvieux. "I received a 40-hour training class on how to write a news release, how to write a newspaper article and how to take proper photographs."
For the last 18 months, she has helped the South Dakota Public Affairs Office cover local stories and write press releases so the local media is aware of what is happening in the Army National Guard.
"I am telling the story of the 109th RSG and any units under us that do not have a UPAR," said Harvieux, whose main job is working as an administrative specialist. These skills lend to her passion for telling the Soldiers' story.
Harvieux earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in public relations at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minn. "I like talking to the Soldiers and getting to see what other units do," she said. "I like telling a story with photography. It helps people understand the National Guard. I don't think everybody knows what a Soldier sacrifices."
As a UPAR, Harvieux's produces a regular feature story called "Soldier Spotlight," takes pictures of training events and produces photo collages that she posts on the unit retention bulletin board.
"I've documented pepper spray training, taser training and worked with medical and flight units during a mass casualty event," said Harvieux.
Telling the behind the scenes story of Soldiers doing their jobs is something she enjoys. "I took a great photo of a Soldier who was pepper sprayed during military police training, and I captured the look on his face, with the tears coming down," Harvieux said. "This is the part people never see."
Any Soldier can volunteer to be a UPAR and assist with getting their unit's story out into the public eye. The Army National Guard is a large part of all the communities they are in. UPARs are a key part of sharing information with the general public.
| Date Taken: | 06.11.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 06.11.2009 16:29 |
| Story ID: | 34913 |
| Location: | RAPID CITY, SD, US |
| Web Views: | 357 |
| Downloads: | 132 |
This work, Unit Public Affairs Representatives: Telling the Soldiers' story, by CPT Kalen Arreola, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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