ART Public Affairs: Worth It?

Hi All,

I've been looking to get into Public Affairs for a while but (I'm assuming with the economy) jobs are snapped up pretty quickly all around. I saw that they are starting a list for Public Affairs ARTs and two locations I'd be interested in (McGuire AFB, NJ and MacDill AFB, FL) are both on the list as potentially needing people. Seems like an interesting arrangement altogether and I've been going back and forth about filling out the form to get on the list.

I understand that most ARTs previously served on active duty. Is it odd for someone who hasn't previously been in the military to become an ART? Is there a boot camp-style process you go through in the beginning? If there is, I'm 25 and in good shape, so I'm not overly concerned, but just wondering what to expect. Also, are your weekends and two-week tours done locally at your regular duty station, or somewhere else?

Thanks to any who take the time to share your thoughts!

Lucabrasi is incorrect.  Especially in lg metropolitan areas, I know bases that have hired no prior service before.  Best chance to get your foot in civil service door for some - most vets that would block the cert are likely not interested.

Originally posted by HRGeek Lucabrasi is incorrect.  Especially in lg metropolitan areas, I know bases that have hired no prior service before.  Best chance to get your foot in civil service door for some - most vets that would block the cert are likely not interested.   Just remember this when getting into the ART world.  You really DO have one foot in both.  You are a military member and it's not just the uniform.  You have to meet military standards, too.  If you're willing to become a military member (not just a civil servant), it's the best of both worlds - to include 2 retirements!

Where am I incorrect? Are you saying that I have heard of it before?

Generally, one must be qualified to hold the AFSC required by the position in order to get hired, a requirement a NPS person would not meet. I have seen some exceptional junior T/R's hired in at lower grades ie: WG-05 to fill a WG-10 position, but in 26 years, I have never heard of someone being hired on as an ART off the street prior to completing BMT and tech school.

If they hire it as an ART position, you would have to join the AF Reserves, which would require Air Force basic training, unless there's something that's changed in my 33 years of being in the Air Force & Air Force Reserves.  For public affairs type jobs though, I don't see why they couldn't just hire as a non-ART civilian employee.  If it requires being an ART, though...I'd expect to go to basic & maybe or maybe not some kind of technical school.  The reason you'd have to go to basic training is because it'd be stupid to just hand you a military uniform without having you trained in basic military customs & courtesies, and teaching you how to be a military member.  I don't think you'd get much respect from other ART's or TR's if you didn't go to basic training.

That and it makes that whole "deployment to the sandbox" thing much easier.

In my unit, PA gets deployed more than the cops..