By MC2 Shawn J. Stewart

NPS students, faculty and staff listen intently to former Army Chief of Staff retired Gen. George W. Casey at Ingersoll Hall, March 5. Casey shared stories and anecdotes from his 4-decade-long career and discussed, amongst other things, the role of civilians in the modern military.

"We need to learn how to communicate with civilians … it's amazing to me how few military folks are practiced in that [art]," said Casey. "You have to learn to put yourselves in their position and get to know and relate to them."

Casey also spoke about the importance of public relations and the relationships of trusts that commands must foster with the press in order to ensure that their messages are being heard and communicated to the public.

"How many of you know a reporter well enough to e-mail them?" Casey asked. "You need to start building those contacts now, seek them out and stay in touch."

"If there is a modicum of trust between the two of you; you have a better chance of them getting the message right," continued Casey.

Casey entered the Army in 1971. He served in multiple theaters of operations including a three-year stint as the senior coalition commander in Iraq from 2004-2007.