U.S. Army Medical Command Logo
Position Title
Public Affairs Specialist
Agency
U.S. Army Medical Command
Announcement Number
WTET198891759122D Opens in new window
Open Period
Tuesday, August 27, 2019 to Tuesday, September 10, 2019
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1. Do you claim Veterans' Preference? (limit characters)
2. 10-Point Other Veterans' Rating

Do you meet one of the following?
  • are a veteran who served on Active duty at any time and have a present service-connected disability or are receiving compensation, disability retirement benefits, or pension from the military or Department of Veterans Affairs but do not qualify for CP or CPS; OR,
  • you received a Purple Heart.
Supporting documentation: You are required to submit acceptable proof of your preference or appointment eligibility. Acceptable documentation is a DD Form 214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," showing dates of service, as well as character of service (Honorable, General, etc.) and time lost (if any). The member 4 copy of your DD Form 214 is preferable (Note: If you have more than one DD Form 214 for multiple periods of active duty service, you should submit a copy for each period of service.).
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3. 5-Point Veterans' Preference

Are you a veteran who served on Active duty?
  • During a war; OR
  • During the period April 28, 1952 through July 1, 1955; OR
  • For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955, and before October 15, 1976; OR
  • During the Gulf War from August 2, 1990, through January 2, 1992; OR
  • For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning September 11, 2001, and ending on the date prescribed by Presidential proclamation or by law as the last day of Operation Iraqi Freedom; OR
  • In a campaign or expedition for which a campaign medal has been authorized. Any Armed Forces Expeditionary medal or campaign badge, including El Salvador, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, Southwest Asia, Somalia, and Haiti, qualifies for preference.
NOTE: A campaign medal holder or Gulf War veteran who originally enlisted after September 7, 1980, (or began active duty on or after October 14, 1982, and has not previously completed 24 months of continuous active duty) must have served continuously for 24 months or the full period called or ordered to active duty.

Supporting documentation: 
  • You are required to submit a legible copy/copies of the following: DD Form 214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," showing all dates of service, as well as character of service (Honorable, General, etc.). The member 4 copy of your DD Form 214 is preferable.
OR
  • Future Military Retirees*: You are required to submit a copy of your retirement DD Form 214 OR certification document** OR a copy of your approved retirement letter AND a copy of your terminal leave request (if applicable). You will be required to provide your DD Form 214 upon issuance. OR Future Military Separatees*: You are required to submit:
  • Your most recent DD Form 214 OR
  • Certification document** OR
  • Your most recent active duty orders AND a copy of your terminal leave request (if applicable).
  • You will be required to provide your DD Form 214 upon issuance.*Active duty military members who are selected may not be appointed unless on terminal leave or already separated from the armed forces.
The "certification" letter is a written document on an official letterhead of the appropriate military branch in which the veteran served, and contains at a minimum, the service member's: (1) military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; (2) expected character of service (i.e. honorable); (3) rank; and (4) type of discharge. The "certification" must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, military personnel officer, or commander of the service member's unit or higher headquarters. The service member's military service dates are necessary in order to determine whether he or she meets the definition of ''veteran'' under 5 U.S.C. 2108(1) (Federal Register, 2016).
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4. External Recruitment Military Spouse Preference

I am a military spouse who is currently married to my active duty sponsor. I am exercising my preference eligibility for positions within the local commuting area of my sponsor's current duty station.  I certify that I have not accepted nor declined a permanent, continuing Federal or non-appropriated fund position in the local commuting area of our current duty location. 

NOTE 1:  Military spouses are eligible for one permanent noncompetitive appointment using their preference eligibility for the duration of the active duty sponsor's assignment to a permanent duty station, as long as the military spouse has not declined or accepted a permanent Federal or non-appropriated fund position in the commuting area of the sponsor's current duty location.  If you certify that you have not used your preference at your sponsor's current duty location and it is discovered to be untrue, you may be subject to loss of MSP and possible disciplinary action. 

NOTE 2:  You must include a copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for MSP.

NOTE 3:  MSP applies if you are ranked among the "best qualified" for this vacancy, and the list established from this announcement is used to fill the vacancy. 

NOTE 4:  MSP does not apply, however, when preference would violate statutes or regulations on veterans' preference or nepotism.

Supporting Documentation:  You must provide a signed Military Spouse PPP Self-certification Checklist, PCS orders/verification of duty location assignment, a copy of marriage certificate or license and documents as listed on the Military Spouse PPP Self-certification Checklist.

Are you a military spouse eligible for preference under delegated examining procedures?
(limit characters)
5. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan

Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a federal agency other than the agency hiring for this position?  If yes, confirm:

• you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy

• your grade is equivalent to or below the grade level of the vacancy and

• your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.

ICTAP applicants must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well-qualified is defined as meeting all of the minimum qualification standards and eligibility requirements as well as possessing skills that clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position.

*Note: Under competitive delegated examining, an ICTAP eligible will be considered well-qualified if they attain an eligibility rating of 90 or higher, not including points for veterans' preference.

Supporting documentation: Federal employees seeking ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.704, by submitting a copy of the following documents with your completed application: A copy of your agency notice; AND,

A copy of your most recent annual performance appraisal; AND,

A copy of your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location.  Additional information regarding ICTAP eligibility can be found in the OPM Employee's Guide to Career Transition.  For more information, review the USAJOBS Resource Center.
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Assessment 1
Thank you for your interest in a Public Affairs Specialist position with Department of the Army. Your resume and the responses you provide to this assessment questionnaire will be used to determine if you are among the best qualified for this position. Your responses are subject to verification. Please review your responses for accuracy before you submit your application. (limit characters)
1. Select the one statement that best describes the education and/or experience that you possess that demonstrates your ability to perform the work of a Public Affairs Specialist at the GS-11 grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal Service.
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Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided. (limit characters)
2. Develop relationships with media sources and journalists to obtain optimum media coverage for an organization.
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3. Serve as point of contact for local and national media and as liaison for the organization to establish and maintain relations with the media representatives.
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4. Communicate with media outlets; to include publications, broadcasts, press conferences; to distribute information regarding organizational developments.
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5. Identify public relations methods to improve communications with the public and specialized groups, general public and targeted audiences to include demographic assessment, socio-economic indicators, geographic characteristics, existing health care sources and/or patient provider populations.
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6. Gather information and develop awareness about newsworthy subjects through research, interviews, observation, and experience.
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7. Organize all print and broadcast media interviews with Command Group and staff subject matter experts to provide advice on the interview process.
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8. Analyze data and market trends for both hospital beneficiaries and civilian health care systems.
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9. Review all information to be placed on an official website.
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10. Coordinate, develop and implement social media strategies by utilizing social media tools and techniques to increase communication with various target audiences.
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11. Utilize skills such as communication, marketing, advertising and/or graphic arts skills to promote health care programs/initiatives to external beneficiaries.
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12. Develop messaging campaigns to determine the right communications strategies and determining the effectiveness through measurement and analyses tools.
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13. Promote installation or organizational products and services through public relations initiatives.
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14. Compose written briefing materials and key talking points for senior executives on particular topics that include relevant data points, organizational positioning, key messages, desired outcomes.
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15. Compose Public Relations Content for targeted audiences and other written materials to promote a particular position or convey a particular message for an organization or government agency.
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16. Develop new informational materials, such as news releases, fact sheets, brochures, booklets, and broadcast spots, to increase communication with various target audiences.
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17. Your responses to the Announcement and Assessment Questionnaires, along with your resume and all supporting documentation are subject to evaluation and verification to ensure accuracy. Please take this opportunity to review your responses to ensure their accuracy. (limit characters)