| 19th Public Affairs Detachment 19th Public Information Detachment | |
|---|---|
 Public affairs units icon | |
| Active |
1 June 1966 – 12 October 1970 1 September 1988– present |
| Country |
 United States |
| Branch |
 United States Army |
| Type | Mobile Public Affairs Detachment |
| Role | Public Affairs |
| Size | 10-20 personnel |
| Part of | 1st Infantry Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Fort Riley, Kansas |
| Website | 19th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment |
| Insignia | |
| Branch Insignia |
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The 19th Public Affairs Detachment (9 MPAD) is a public affairs unit of the United States Army. The unit provided photographic, video, and documental support to the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley garrison.
History[]
The 19th Public Affairs Detachment traces its lineage to the 19th Public Information Detachment, which was constituted on 23 March 1966 in the Regular Army. On 1 June 1966, it was activated at Fort Riley in Kansas and assigned to the 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized). Upon activation the detachment deployed to Vietnam, where it was involved in all major campaigns, and granted campaign participation credit: Counteroffensive Phases II, III, IV, V, VI, VII; Tet Counteroffensive; Tet 69/Counteroffensive; Summer-Fall 1969; Winter-Spring 1970; and the Sanctuary Counteroffensive. However, on 12 October 1970 the detachment was inactivated.[1]
On 1 September 1988, the detachment was redesignated as the 19th Public Affairs Detachment and subsequently activated at Fort Riley, Kansas. The detachment now formed part of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized). A few years later, it was deployed alongside the division headquarters to Saudi Arabia and took part in the Gulf War. For this, it was granted campaign participation credit for: Defense of Saudi Arabia, Liberation & Defense of Kuwait, and Cease-Fire. The detachment has also deployed several times with the division during the War on Terrorism, however its campaigns are to be determined. As of 2025, the detachment formed part of the Headquarters Battalion of the 1st Infantry Division.[1]
Duties[]
A public affairs detachment or PAD is part of each state's Army National Guard. In the Regular Army, a standard public affairs detachment typically consists of 20 total members, lead by a Captain and assisted by a Master Sergeant. These personnel are all given the Military Occupational Speciality or MOS of 46S (Public Affairs Mass Communications Specialist) or 46Z (Chief Public Affairs NCO). Each detachment is operationally subordinated to a unit within that state's national guard, but administered by the Chief of Public Affairs, as part of U.S. Army Community Relations.[2][3]
Awards[]
Campaign Participation Credit[]
Campaign Participation Credit granted to the detachment include:[1]
Decorations[]
Decorations awarded to the 19th Public Affairs Detachment or predecessors:[1][4][5]
| Ribbon | Streamer | Name | Service | General Orders |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered SOUTHWEST ASIA 1990-1991 | 28 December 1990 to 14 May 1991 | DAGO 1994-12 |
|
|
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1966-1968 | 1 December 1966 to 30 June 1968 | DAGO 31-69 |
|
|
|
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969 | January to June 1969 | DAGO 59-69 |
|
|
|
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969-1970 | 29 July 1969 to 20 July 1970 | DAGO 55-70 |
|
|
Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1966-1969 | 19 December 1966 to 28 June 1969 | DAGO 59-69 |
Notes[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "19th Public Affairs Detachment". United States Army Center of Military History. https://history.army.mil/Portals/143/LineageAndHonorsDocuments/PublicAffairs/19th%20Public%20Affairs%20Detachment.pdf?ver=1pZquCU0YQYMBC7gFpQULA%3d%3d.
- ↑ "Army Public Affairs". https://www.army.mil/info/institution/publicAffairs/chief/.
- ↑ "MOS 46S: What you need to know" (in en). 11 October 2018. https://www.army.mil/article/211654/mos_46s_what_you_need_to_know.
- ↑ "Army General Orders Unit Award Index". January 2022. https://www.hrc.army.mil/wcmt-api/sites/default/wcmtfiles/files/16333_0.pdf.
- ↑ "Unit Decoration and Campaign Register from 1962-1987". United States Army Human Resources Command. https://www.hrc.army.mil/wcmt-api/sites/default/wcmtfiles/files/16284_0.xlsx.