Air Force leader on Web 2.0

It’s always refreshing to see our senior leaders encourage the understanding and adaptation of new technology. A commentary by Maj. Gen. Hank Morrow, 1st Air Force (Air Forces Northern) commander, entitled, “The ‘happy’ medium between OPSEC and social networking: can it be achieved?” paints a pretty good image of the course we need to go and the foot-stompers that people in public affairs need to be making to not try and control information in this realm, but craft it and consistently build upon our strategic themes and messages.

Hearts and minds, indeed

 U.S. Forces Afghanistan’s Facebook page features an article from Al Jazeera on the Taliban’s new tactic of trying to win the hearts and minds of Afghani people through publication of a code of conduct .

Key quotes from the Taliban book are available here. Apparently some of the many challenges for Taliban Supreme Leader Mullah Omar focus on consolidating his power and finding a new way to persuade people of Afghanistan that they are the same good people they were before Sept. 11, 2001. Of course this shouldn’t be an issue if you exclude mass killings, torture, oppression of freedoms and hostile community standards they imposed upon women.

The release of information is timely, in that Afghan elections loom closer. has openly invited Taliban members to take part in the Aug. 20 elections. The question is whether this new show of spirit will impact the polls, Taliban leaders have labeled an illegal election.

Wash on high, no bleach

A friend of mine Capt. Brad Kimberly who pens Blogging Iraq has some observations on something everyone thinks about before going into a war zone: laundry.

Laundry is just one of the many items the military contracts out at certain locations so the warfighters deployed there can focus on their main mission requirements. It has definitely made my deployments easier.

Some people don’t have weekends

I’ve been following some of the blog write-ups from people I know who are deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and was reminded of something most Americans take for granted: weekends and days off. Our deployed warriors are typically on shift 12-18 hours a day, six or seven days a week, for six months or a year. Keep these people in mind the next time you share with someone that your weekend just wasn’t long enough.

Blogging from the top

I was very impressed seeing this video of a wing commander using blogs as a means to disseminate command information to the base populace. This is just one example of how participatory media can become a mission enabler for Air Force people.

Look mom, I can Tweet

It seems everything you read these days is about a new medium for getting the word out on an abundance of topics. Twitter, the marvelous method for telling someone on the other side of the planet what you are doing (in 140 characters or less) has become the latest craze among celebrities, organizations and even the military in getting out the word.

For instance, on David Letterman’s show he was interviewing actor Kevin Spacey, who made mention that he was using Twitter, with a following of over 800 thousand people. A simple demonstration followed, with Mr. Letterman admitting to not understanding the platform or importance of it.

I recently saw a post from a prominent individual who decided it was time for them to start Tweeting. He mentioned he didn’t really understand it, but just knew he had to start doing it. From a strategic communication standpoint, this is laughable, somewhat in the same manner as jumping from a bridge because that person over there is doing it.

In the military we go through weapons training before being handed an M-16, M-4, M-9 or any other typical weapons used in a hostile environment. Not providing the training would obviously have far-reaching ramifications when it comes to the proper employment of them.

I think of some of these participatory media products in a similar fashion when it comes to strategically communicating with your audience: don’t pick it up and start using it unless you understand what its purpose it; don’t aim it unless you intend to fire.

Goodbye to a legend

I just returned home and saw the news that legendary news anchor Walter Cronkite has passed away at the youthful age of 92.

Read the New York Times article on his impact. When he spoke, people listened to him as an honest, credible source of information. While there was no 24-hour news cycle back then, he was the newsmaker each day.

He wasn’t flashy, but someone who instilled trust in those who watched him. He was more than just a talking head.

All journalists took lessons from the ways he changed broadcast; everyone wished they had his candor. Goodbye Mr. Cronkite and thank you for improving our art.

Airmen go online

Tech. Sgt. Kevin Dennison, an Air Force broadcaster with the Defense Media Activity - San Antonio (formerly HQ Air Force News Agency), works on an Avid editing suite. DMA is a Department of Defense activity whose Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines produces print, broadcast, radio and photo products for the military services and DoD.

Here’s an Air Force Report on the move to participatory media. This is a good thing for military members to get out and tell the Air Force story, but some responsibility comes with this new ability.

Visit AF.mil for this and other stories concerning the Air Force.

Do you have a face for Internet radio?

A young Frank Sinatra does an interview for one of the many programs produced by the Armed Forces Radio Service for broadcast to the troops overseas during World War II. (American Forces Information Service photo)

These days it seems we spend a lot of time focused on the new, hot, social, compelling media that is a must-have in the lifeline of companies. But what then?

Strategic Guy blog has an interesting take on strategic communication entitled Are Hotties Destined to be High Performers?

While that certainly is a catchy headline, it brings up an important question on credibility aspects of delivering a message.  In our new connected online conversation, almost everyone has an image to match with a message. So how does lend itself to instilling credibility in what’s being communicated.

One example highlighting this ability to impose a certain public’s attention is a commercial showing the value of beauty. T-Mobile has recently brought back Catherine Zeta-Jones to spice up brand awareness with their new TV ads. Here’s a take on it from Brandweek.

Beautiful women aren’t the only people strategically employed. What about the I’m A Mac spots with a cool, hip Mac vs the stereotypical IBM suitman or Wilford Brimley’s image to sell oatmeal. Sometimes that image of informative, trustworthiness goes a long way as well. Yes, I know we’re talking the good ol’ television medium for these examples, but they all now transition into our Web ads, articles, tweets, in conveying the message.

Showing credibility comes in many forms but consistent, transparent messaging is one way to not have to worry about winning the beauty contest for support.

Follow official Air Force Tweets

(U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Aaron Allmon)

If you’re interested in following along on Twitter with actual Air Force organizations, here are some of the major ones:

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