Patrick A. Swan is a retired military and federal civil service public affairs professional with more than 39 years’ experience around the career field both stateside and in combat zones. For a time in the mid-1990s, he served as director of the Army News Service, an official government entity chartered to inform soldiers similar to how the Associated Press serves to inform the public. With this commentary, he has probably rendered himself persona non grata from ever working in a public affairs contract position within the DoD. So be it.