The Military Giveth and Giveth Up the Ass

[ 2 ] September 9, 2009 | Amanda

Like this is anything new. The military lets its soldiers and their families be a part of the 21st century and then decides that maybe it wants to fling up back to the stone age. I got my September Family News in my e-mail this morning from Army OneSource. In it, there was an article that the DOD (Department of Defense for the newbies to my blog) is re-evaluating the use of Facebook, Twitter, and YourTube for soldiers on DOD networks. What does this mean? It means that when a soldier is deployed, the ONLY way they would have to chat with their spouses online would be through sites like AKO (Army Knowledge Online). This would also mean the ONLY people they could chat with would be their spouses and other military members. You can’t be a member of AKO unless you’re a military member or dependent.

I of course clicked the link in my newsletter and went to the DOD Web 2.0 Guidance Forum. You know I wasn’t leaving without having my opinion seen. Of course my comment is awaiting moderation. We’ll see if they allow it through. The questions they pose seem to be no brainers to me. Here are their questions and the short version of how I answered them.

“Q. How valuable and what are the benefits of Web 2.0/social media tools to military families with love ones who are deployed? Is this a critical necessity, or merely a useful addition to your options? Very, and yes it’s critical!

Q. What impact would there be to families, with loves ones who are deployed, if Web 2.0/social media tools were NOT available to military members serving over seas? Only direct dependents would be able to chat with the soldier in real time and would hear from the soldier frequently. These guys (and women) don’t have time to e-mail each person they know individually when they get computer time.

Q. When communicating with your love ones who are deployed, which social medium do you use most frequently?” Facebook

If you’re a military spouse or have a family member in the military, I urge you to go to the DOD Web 2.0 Guidance Forum and leave your answers to these questions as well. The more voices heard, the better the chances that families will have better communications when our soldiers are deployed and TDY.

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Category: Army, family, military

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Comments (2)

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1

Leah Rubin says:

September 9, 2009 at 5:09 pm

Wow, you're doing a real service by sharing this information. I hope they listen to you– I can't imagine losing any of the means for contact with your hubby!
2

Milk and Honey Mommy says:

September 10, 2009 at 4:39 pm

Amanda,

I hope the message gets out and people respond. Hopefully, they'll never remove the opportunity for spouses and dependents to communicate w/soldiers while they're deployed. Also to be considered are the many soldiers who have neither (spouses or dependents) and are able to communicate w/friends. I'm sure this communication is a great morale booster for many of them.

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