A CITY IN CRISIS: HOPE AND PRAYER AMID THE ASHES : Marching Orders Include Script for Answering Queries

Be honest . . . but this is what to say.

That’s what military officials are telling the troops who hit the media-swarmed streets of Los Angeles.

To help soldiers speak truthfully to reporters, officials have developed a script of 10 questions and answers.

“The intent is to be open and free,” said Col. Don Kirchoffner, director of the Joint Information Bureau for the Joint Task Force, which coordinates the Marines, Army and National Guard here. “The intention is not to tell them what to say, but to let them know they are at liberty to talk. . . .”

The military came under fire for keeping the media far from the action during the Persian Gulf War, the conflict in Panama and the Grenada invasion. Now, troops dot the streets of Los Angeles--up close and personal in a riot-torn city crawling with journalists and photographers.

Not to worry. The PAOs (public affairs officers) of the JIB (Joint Information Bureau) at the JTF (Joint Task Force) authorized by the DOD (Department of Defense) have developed command instructions, or a how-to-talk tip sheet for soldiers encountering reporters.

It’s simple stuff.

If you are asked what’s your unit? “Answer forthrightly,” according to the memo, which is being circulated to leaders of commands for dissemination to the lower ranks.

To some, the memo seems like a refreshing departure from the usual “loose lips sink ships” military stance.

“I’m surprised that they directed the troops to answer all or most questions; they could simply order them to make no comment,” said Gordon Clanton, who teaches sociology at San Diego State University. “The military way is to not say anything.”

Troops are directed to answer three of the 10 questions “forthrightly” and to answer two others “truthfully.” On the remaining five questions, they are supplied with actual answers.

How do you feel about being here?

“Answer forthrightly,” says the memo.

Asked how he felt about being here, National Guard Lt. Raymond Horst, of Chico, said: “Great. It’s like taking dancing lessons all your life and someone calls you up and says, ‘Do you want to go to the ball?’ ”

But when four other National Guard members were asked how they felt about being here, they all said: “We’re not supposed to talk to the media.”

Sgt. Daniel Ramirez, a seven-year veteran of the National Guard, says now that the violence is over, supervisors have asked that “we minimize contact with the media.”

The tricky questions, the ones best left untouched, relate to the soldiers’ personal views on the Rodney G. King verdicts or how long the federal troops will patrol the streets.

Did you think, asks a sample question in the memo, the verdicts would have resulted in so much violence?

“I really couldn’t speculate,” is the appropriate answer, according to the memo.

Public relations has become even more crucial as different branches of the military compete for an ever-shrinking pot of government funds and face the prospect of being trimmed, said Sgt. Maj. John Dearinger, who has been in the National Guard for 27 years.

“The National Guard is at war with the regular Army for the first time politically because we are trying to maintain our numbers as best we can and so are they,” said Dearinger, who runs a small printing company in Oxnard.

And so, while military officials have traditionally held the reins tightly, in this competitive climate, the matter of who speaks to reporters, what they say and how it all looks becomes that much more vital.

“We are increasingly muzzling our military forces so the Pentagon can conduct operations in a manner that they choose and that they will not be required to answer the public about,” said retired Rear Adm. Gene LaRocque, director of the Washington-based Center for Defense Information.

“One could argue in Iraq, where there was fighting, that there was some reason for it, but there’s no reason to direct our men how to respond to press queries when dealing with an internal situation in the United States,” LaRocque said after reviewing the one-page memo. “It’s sort of a Big Brother notice to our troops.”

Handout to the Officers

To help soldiers speak truthfully to reporters, military officials have developed a script of 10 questions and 10 answers. This memo is being distributed by the Joint Information Bureau for the Joint Task Force, which works with civilian authorities to coordinate the Marines, Army and National Guard :

NOTE: Personnel should be truthful in their answers. Personnel have the right to confer with public affairs before answering any media questions and have the right to stop the interview at any time.

Q: What unit are you with?

A: Answer forthrightly.

Q: How do you feel about being out here?

A: Answer forthrightly.

Q: Does the possibility of using deadly force against fellow citizens bother you?

A: We are trained to use the minimum force necessary to perform our mission. We, however, do not want to even do that.

Q: Have you seen any looting/violence/arson activity?

A: Answer forthrightly.

Q: Do you have live ammunition in your weapon?

A: Answer truthfully.

Q: How long do you expect to be out here?

A: I really couldn’t speculate. That will be determined by civilian and military authorities.

Q: Have you ever been involved in an operation like this before?

A: Answer truthfully

Q: How do you feel about the verdict in the Rodney King trial?

A: It would be inappropriate for me to comment on that matter.

Q: Did you think the verdict from the trial would have resulted in violence to such an extent?

A: I really couldn’t speculate.

Q: Can you pursue and arrest individuals engaged in illegal activity?

A: We are here to support civil law enforcement authority. We will only use the minimum force necessary. We are authorized to assist, but do not discuss rules of engagement.