Officer Subspecialty
CG-SEI13
External Affairs
An officer subspecialty earned alongside a primary designator, marking advanced education or experience in this field.
Description
External Affairs Subspecialty Officers have experience in a role requiring the development of skills necessary to engage and communicate effectively with external audiences. There are four levels within the External Affairs Subspecialty: Level I is reserved for Governmental Affairs Officer in SEI-13 coded positions; Level II is an introductory communicator position for Officers filling a full-time Public Affairs Officer position; Level III is a mid-grade communicator position for Officers returning to a role in a full-time Public Affairs Officer position; and Level IV is for Area and District External Affairs Officers.
Core Skills
- strategic communications
- media relations
- public affairs planning
- government relations
- executive communication
- stakeholder engagement
- crisis communication
- speech writing
- communication campaign management
Common Certifications
- Accredited in Public Relations (APR)
- Communication Management Professional (CMP)
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
- Google Analytics Certification
- HubSpot Content Marketing Certification
- FEMA Emergency Management Institute ICS 100 and 200
Civilian Career Paths
- PUBLIC AFFAIRS
- PROJECT MANAGEMENT
- ADMINISTRATION
- HUMAN RESOURCES
Training & Development
Getting Started
- HubSpot Content Marketing Certification
- Google Analytics Certification
- FEMA Emergency Management Institute ICS 100 and 200
- Public Relations Certificate
Career Growth
- Accredited in Public Relations (APR)
- Communication Management Professional (CMP)
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
- Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD)
Data sourced from official Coast Guard publications and public military occupational references. Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.