Anyone have information on the new PAO Test? I can not find it online.
I'm trying to figure this out myself. From what I have gathered the test tat was supposed to be out last year is not out yet and no announcement as to when it will be. I'm told we're still on the waiver system.
Go figure. I have to find that waiver information again. I need to accomplish all the "technician" requirement though, do I not? Like publishing the media releases, etc? I really want to get my PIO and this is just confusing.
You will still have to accomplish everything else which is required and "possible" - service, staff work, time-in, etc.
Keep in mind that earning PIO has little to do with the specialty track... PIO as an ES rating is independent of the specialty track stuff and you can work on that regardless of where you're at in the specialty track. Don't let the technician rating hold you up training for PIO...
They'll have to update the specialty track study guide when the test comes out. The existing guide was last updated in 2001 I think, and the industry has come a long way since then with social media, etc... I think it would be wise to add those types of things, but my concern is that if it comes out soon, then those of us who are currently working on it and waiting out the 12 month internship time limit, will be blind sided with all sorts of new stuff to do right before our time is up. Then, do we go from being "done" with all requirements completed and just waiting for the 12 months to be up, to starting all over with a different task guide, or what? This needs to be addressed.
Here's the info I have for the waiver... from the NHQ website...
Dear CAP PAOs and friends,
AFAIDL Course 02010, the "CAP Public Affairs Officer Course," is being retired. No new enrollments will be accepted as of 30 June 2010.
This course is obsolete and does not meet the training needs of our Public Affairs Officers.
An examination based on the contents of CAPR 190-1 and the new PAOs How To Guide will replace this course for completion of the Technician Rating of the PAO Specialty Track, CAPP 201.
This test will be available by 30 June 2010. An announcement of test availability will be made separately.
If you have a member who is enrolled in the PAO Specialty Track (CAPP 201) and needs a waiver of the course to complete the Technician Rating, he/she may send a request via the chain of command to the National PA Team Leader at al.pabon@mncap.org
This waiver request must be approved by the member's immediate commander and wing commander. It must outline the work the member has accomplished (writing releases, publishing newsletters, managing websites, organizing community outreach activity, etc...) which shows he/she has a basic understanding of the Public Affairs function.
This request will be reviewed by NHQ/PA and CAP/PA then approved/disapproved by the Senior Advisor, Support.
Once the new examination is in place no further waivers will be granted.
If you have any questions about this letter please do not hesitate to contact us.
Commanders, Professional Development Officers and Wing/Region PAOs are requested to give this information the widest possible distribution.
Thanks for all that you do and have a great day.
Al.
___________________________________
Al Pabon, Major, CAP
National Public Affairs Team Leader
Headquarters, Civil Air Patrol
Ah, okay. While I was reading, I was under the impression you needed the Technician rating in order to qualify as PIO.
No, but in order to get your Senior rating....you have to have the PIO ES Qual. It's on the pamphlet.
Quote from: PWK-GT on May 05, 2011, 06:05:25 AM
No, but in order to get your Senior rating....you have to have the PIO ES Qual. It's on the pamphlet.
Not for Senior, only for Master.... Senior only requires you to "Perform as trainee or primary mission IO for two (2) SAR missions (training
or actual)." Obviously a "primary" would be qualified but a trainee wouldn't have to be. All you have to do is participate in the 2 missions, but doesn't say you have to qualify.
Now, for the Master rating, the requirement is "Act as "primary" mission information officer for two (2) emergency services activities (actual, training, or evaluation)." As a "primary, I take that as would have to be fully qualified.
PIO is such a long process... I'm glad I don't have to have it until Master... If I started working on it the day I enrolled in the PA track (which I didn't) I don't see any way I could have it done in the 3 years it takes to get Senior. Big thing are the 2 ICS classes that are a week long in residence... There needs to be an alternative training method for this... All the PIO's I know of in my wing are retired age. That's because they have the time and money to take weeks off of work and put themselves up in hotels and such. Then there's the guys like me- 25, energetic, college educated marketing and PA professional, but haven't got rich "yet" so can't drop the cash on traveling and hotels, and hard to get away for that long. I'd love to get more involved but the non-local training is making that darn near impossible.
NESA, offers ICS 300 and ICS 400 along with FEMA PIO classes. Total cost for attending minus travel, is about 350 for two weeks of training and that includes meals and housing.
Quote from: Woodsy on May 05, 2011, 05:25:38 PM
Quote from: PWK-GT on May 05, 2011, 06:05:25 AM
No, but in order to get your Senior rating....you have to have the PIO ES Qual. It's on the pamphlet.
Not for Senior, only for Master.... Senior only requires you to "Perform as trainee or primary mission IO for two (2) SAR missions (training
or actual)." Obviously a "primary" would be qualified but a trainee wouldn't have to be. All you have to do is participate in the 2 missions, but doesn't say you have to qualify.
Now, for the Master rating, the requirement is "Act as "primary" mission information officer for two (2) emergency services activities (actual, training, or evaluation)." As a "primary, I take that as would have to be fully qualified.
PIO is such a long process... I'm glad I don't have to have it until Master... If I started working on it the day I enrolled in the PA track (which I didn't) I don't see any way I could have it done in the 3 years it takes to get Senior. Big thing are the 2 ICS classes that are a week long in residence... There needs to be an alternative training method for this... All the PIO's I know of in my wing are retired age. That's because they have the time and money to take weeks off of work and put themselves up in hotels and such. Then there's the guys like me- 25, energetic, college educated marketing and PA professional, but haven't got rich "yet" so can't drop the cash on traveling and hotels, and hard to get away for that long. I'd love to get more involved but the non-local training is making that darn near impossible.
Watch your local EMAs for weekend classes. I learned that here the fire service institute runs classes around the state. You'll only be able to pick up one at a time but it's cheaper than going away for a week.
+1 on the NESA recommendation, it's also great networking that will help you.
That's a pretty good price for NESA, but it's also the time issue- Hard to get away much of anywhere during the week for more than a day or 2 with proper planing.
My squadron hasn't had much of a PA program in the past. I just took over the PAO position a few weeks ago and am pretty much starting from scratch. Interesting to hear you mention the EMA's as that's one area I was planning on spending some time getting to now them (or them to know us should I say) but I hadn't thought about the opportunity of joint training. I'll look into that.
Expect the PIO quals to go up fairly soon. I'd recommend getting that one ASAP or risk having to do the more difficult program when it comes out.
Quote from: Woodsy on May 05, 2011, 09:52:06 PM
That's a pretty good price for NESA, but it's also the time issue- Hard to get away much of anywhere during the week for more than a day or 2 with proper planing.
My squadron hasn't had much of a PA program in the past. I just took over the PAO position a few weeks ago and am pretty much starting from scratch. Interesting to hear you mention the EMA's as that's one area I was planning on spending some time getting to now them (or them to know us should I say) but I hadn't thought about the opportunity of joint training. I'll look into that.
Welcome to the world of Public Affairs. I hope you have more success than I have had, however, I am starting to slowly catch on.
The solution here is really simple: You can't be held accountable to complete a nonexistent training requirement.
Until the new exam is brought on line, there is no test. If it makes you feel better, substitute the ICS 290 course, cite DINFOS if you've been there, note your professional public relations experience if you have it, or even throw out a journalism degree or newsroom experience if you have it. But you don't need to substitute anything.
When there's no exam, you can't be held responsible for it. So when you complete your paperwork for the technician level, you can note that the exam doesn't exist and the replacement isn't ready, and you can knock that requirement off your list that easily.
Hope that helps.
-- Your friendly wing director of public affairs and marketing, but likely not your wing
Anyone have an update on the status of the new test/requirements?
I'm a fairly new PAO myself (I volunteered for it about six weeks ago - ITO is my primary specialty), and I've contacted my Group PAO to get some clarification on this new test. According to her, there was supposed to be a new test rolled out last year, but it didn't happen...and she doesn't know when it will happen. To quote her directly, "In the next year, the PAO specialty track is going to change drastically and who knows if the exam will be there at all. There are rumors that the G289 Public Affairs Awareness Course by FEMA might take its place. Until then, don't worry about it." So, that one is waived for the foreseeable future.
There's another requirement for the Technician rating to "complete and submit PAO unit activity reports in accordance with Wing policy." I checked with her on that too, and her response this time was pretty straightforward: "...at this time, (Texas) Wing does not require PAO activity reports......whatever they really are. Trust me, I've looked and talked to others....nothing. The only thing that is required to submit is the PA Plan and Crisis Plan." So, at least here in TXWG, that requirement appears to be waived as well.
Not much help, I know, but it's all I have to share at the moment...
Mike
Thanks. So it looks like no progress has been made (at least not made public) on the new requirements.
I'd say that until you see an announcement from on high, things remain as they are. No course, no exam, hollow requirement.
If it makes you feel better, go take the FEMA G290 course. :)