The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's College of Journalism and Mass Communications involvement in military communications first began last fall when Dean Shari Veil set up a meeting with members of the Navy, the college, Archrival and Goldenrod Companies, to discuss a naming project for the USS Nebraska (SSBN 739).
While touring the Scarlet Hotel during Navy Week last August, Vance Scott, the commanding officer on the USS Nebraska, was listening to how the rooms were named after a city or town in Nebraska and wondered if he could do the same in the U.S. Navy's nuclear powered, Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine.
When Veil learned of Scott's naming project, she contacted Nebraska alumni at Archrival. The Lincoln-based marketing company worked with developer Goldenrod Companies on the brand and naming for the Scarlet Hotel.
A few weeks after the initial meeting, the Navy was choosing from hundreds of community histories and thousands of photos of Nebraska towns and landmarks to name the rooms of the USS Nebraska.
The college's involvement in the military didn't stop there. Since the naming project and last year's Navy Week, when Veil gave Navy Public Affairs Officers a tour of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications and media facilities, she's coordinated a media training for sailors through Big Red Sub Club and an education abroad opportunity aimed towards students in the military.
The Big Red Sub Club was created to support the officers and shipmen of the USS Nebraska. Veil worked with member Mark Stephens, a CoJMC alum and third-generation salesman for imprinted promotional products, to set up the media training for sailors.
The sailors who participated in the training were personally chosen by the USS Nebraska's commander in recognition for going above and beyond. The Big Red Sub Club organizes excursions for the selected few, who can be of any rank, to recognize their excellence in service.
During the media training, sailors practiced being interviewed on a green screen by professor of broadcasting Barney McCoy, from the Meier Studio control room, about the capabilities of USS Nebraska. They also participated in a conversation set by Dean Veil about their personal experience in the Navy and on the USS Nebraska.
"The sailors were impressed with the media training and that the dean of the college would take the time to put it on," Stephens said. "They were grateful the training was something they could use in the future and admired the professionalism and the amount of effort put in on their behalf."
Over the University's spring break, Veil will take a group of students to Brussels, Belgium, as part of "Military Public Affairs in Global Governments," a study abroad course that offers students firsthand experience in public relations within international governance by engaging with public affairs professionals and journalists navigating global governments.
Students will visit NATO, the European Parliament, the Belgium Parliament and the U.S. Embassies to the E.U. and Belgium, as well as agencies specializing in public policy and government affairs.
Veil has also organized guest lectures, case-based analyses and public communication exercises so that students can gain a comprehensive understanding of military public affairs and government relations.
The program was designed for students interested in public affairs, government relations, political science and public policy. From March 15 - March 22, 2025, students will develop skills in public relations campaigns and media management, as well as an understanding of military and governmental policy interplay.
"This program combines theoretical knowledge with practical insights, preparing students for public affairs and international relations careers," Veil said. "Through real-world application, critical thinking and hands-on experiences, students will learn to navigate complex global issues and become leaders in their fields."
