Eric Rutherford

Experience

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  Army National Guard

  May 2007 - Jul 2015

  This position is located at the unit level. The purpose of this position is to provide clerical, personnel, administrative, and pay support to the unit of assignment. Anything and everything that can affect aSoldier’s pay is within the realm of the unit Admin NCO. Types military and non-military correspondence in both draft and final copy. Prepares copy in proper format and in compliance with appropriate regulations, directives, policies, etc. Proofreads finished copy, corrects as necessary and assembles for review, signature, authentication or other disposition.Accomplishes a variety of military personnel transactions, many of which can and will affect a Soldier’s pay (e.g., appointments, enlistments, separations, promotions, reductions, MOS assignments, transfers, completion of officer and enlisted efficiency reports, reports of line of duty investigation, requests for security clearance, applications for attendance at schools, payroll actions, etc.). Provides guidance and assistance to personnel of the command who are concerned with completing the above transactions. Suspense and receive transactions from subordinate units, insures compliance with regulation and procedures and that prerequisites are met or returned for correction. Initiates and completes transactions for personnel assigned to the headquarters. Occasionally assists other personnel in the maintenance of Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) by filing, posting, and updating, and in the overall operation of the iPERMS System. Processes all documents that affect a Soldier’s pay and has a thorough understanding and intricate knowledge of the Military Unit Pay System (MUPS). Insures that cases such as fraudulent enlistment and non-selection for retention are properly documented and processed. Ensures that all pertinent and required data on members of the command is coded into the automated personnel reporting system. Show less The Army public affairs specialist participates in and assists with the supervision and administration of Army public affairs programs primarily through news releases, newspaper articles, Web-based material and photographs for use in military and civilian news media.Responsible for the research, preparation and dissemination of news releases, articles, web-based material and photographs on Army personnel and activities; gather information for military news programs and publications within your unit and around the Army.Supervises the administration of an information program; trains and supervises subordinates in all aspects of journalism and public affairs office activities, including circulation methods and business policies; provides counseling and training to subordinates; conducts performance appraisals; manages resource allocation and budgets.Ensuring accuracy, timeliness and relevance of media products, leads three to seven Soldiers in gathering and preparing news stories for dissemination to internal and external audiences.Provides guidance to subordinates; serving as an editor, edits news stories, prepares headlines and captions, designs format and layout, corrects and revises galley sheets, considers libel and copyright laws, coordinates news-gathering activities; assigns reporters; assists in public relations functions for internal communication, media relations, and community relations.Gathers information, prepares and edits news items and feature articles for newspapers, prepares publicity releases and information releases; takes, develops, and selects photographs; uses computer applications for writing articles, editing, researching information on the internet, and desktop publishing functions.Uses numerous computer platforms and programs such as PC and Mac, MS Office programs and Adobe Creative Suite programs, as well as designs training for Soldiers with these systems and programs. Show less

  • Admin NCO

    Sept 2013 - Jul 2015

  • Public Affairs Noncommissioned Officer

    May 2007 - Sept 2013
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  Oregon Army National Guard

  Oct 2008 - Apr 2009

  Public Affairs Assistant

  Wrote and edited stories for print publication; prepared print publication layout and worked with civilian printing company to print and deliver the Organization’s monthly publication; worked with the PAO to implement public affairs guidance for the organization, fielded media queries, wrote press releases, assisted PAO in writing talking points and speeches.

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  Oregon National Guard

  Apr 2009 - Jun 2010

  Program Analyst

  Performed daily media analysis, wrote and edited stories for print publication; prepared print publication layout and worked with civilian printing company through contract and budget to maintain the monthly publication.Worked with the PAO to implement public affairs guidance for the organization, fielded media queries, wrote press releases and assisted the PAO in writing talking points and speeches. Developed and implemented a revised Unit Public Affairs Representative program for the state, to include building a training program and training materials and acted as a point of contact for units throughout Oregon for Public Affairs-related issues. Was the office Government Purchase Card holder and managed the office budget of $60,000. Show less

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  Oregon Army National Guard

  Jun 2011 - Jun 2012

  Public Affairs Noncommissioned Officer

  Performed pre-mobilization support for the 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment; prepared Soldier readiness packets, developed training plans and wrote contracts for the purchase of equipment to ensure unit success during deployment. Coordinated between unit, battalion, brigade and state logisticians to identify equipment needs, request bids and prepare purchase contracts for specialized equipment for deployment. Worked with the state training team to develop and execute training plans to prepare the detachment for Army-required pre-deployment training needs. Worked with Soldiers, unit, battalion, brigade and state offices to ensure Soldiers’ paperwork and documents were accurate and complete prior to deployment. Show less

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  US Army

  Jun 2012 - May 2013

  Print Editor and Supply Technician

  Ensuring accuracy, timeliness and relevance of media products, led three Soldiers in gathering and preparing news stories for dissemination to internal and external audiences.As a Staff Noncommissioned Officer, performed the duties of a Public Affairs Captain by mentoring and training the Afghan National Army’s Public Affairs team and Public Affairs Officer to develop and implement public affairs guidance to the Afghan National Army, often through an interpreter to overcome language, doctrinal, and cultural barriers to successfully create a public affairs plan, implement a public affairs training program, coordinate with Afghan local media and conduct the first-ever press conference at the corps level.Acted as a liaison between the civilian media and the commands, often performing customer service-based release of information and coordinating civilian media embed operations at the Division-level.Performed mail handler functions at the unit level, ensuring the proper mail pick-up procedures were followed from the Division level mailroom, and implemented new procedures to ensure the most rapid and legal mail distribution to the Soldiers.Managed unit supply functions for nearly $750,000 worth of unit equipment and managed the unit’s fleet of GSA vehicles, with no losses. Show less

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  Oregon National Guard

  Jul 2015 - now

  Battalion Assistant Operations NCO