COMDTINST M5700.13A governs Coast Guard external affairs, including communication, public information, media relations, and outreach.
View COMDTINST M5700.13A on armypubs.army.mil
The publication covers external affairs policy, information release, contingency response, organizational communications, community engagement, social media, heritage, and workforce development. It requires coordinated communication, application of security, accuracy, policy, and propriety standards, and defined qualifications for external affairs personnel.
Applies to: It is intended to provide operational guidance for Coast Guard personnel and is not intended to nor does it impose legally-binding requirements on any party outside the Coast Guard.
The proactive release of information about ongoing lawenforcement activities/operations is not authorized except in those cases where specific operational objectives are achieved through the proactive release of information. (paragraph 9)
Coast Guard spokespersons will ensure that the release of information or imagery does not compromise ongoing operations or investigations, endanger lives, or reveal information beneficial to criminals and other adversaries. (paragraph 2)
In every release of information to the public, SAPP must be used as a paramount rule of thumb when deciding what element of information should be release or withheld. (paragraph 7)
Commanding officers and officers-in-charge must run a proactive and continuous organizational communications program. (paragraph 4)
During a contingency response, the district external affairs officer (EAO) is responsible for developing and releasing information about the incident to the news media, elected officials, and the public unless relieved by a senior EAO as part of a large-scale EA operation. (paragraph 6)