This United States Army manual, Army Regulation AR 360-1 The Army Public Affairs Program October 2020, provides guidelines for release of command and public information, including information released to the media, and community engagement programs intended for internal and external publics with interest in the U.S. Army. This revision also defines the staff relationship of the public affairs officer; identifies public affairs as an inherently governmental function; requires commanders to appoint a unit public affairs representative to any unit that is not supported by a designated public affairs officer; updates policies for Army musical support; and adds official and unofficial website publishing guidance.
This regulation applies to the Regular Army, the Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and the U.S. Army Reserve, unless otherwise stated. It also applies to civilian employees of the Department of the Army. Overseas commanders are responsible for the conduct of public affairs activities within their commands and will be guided by the policies of the Department of the Army and the commanders of unified commands. In the event of a conflict, the policies of the unified command will govern.