Social media offers new avenues for info

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Bryan Bouchard
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  In April, the Air Force opened up some web sites that have not been available on government networks for quite a while, if ever. Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and more are now available to people via the base computer network.

While the Airmen of the 18th Wing Public Affairs Office constantly work to provide relevant information to Kadena users via the public Web site (www.kadena.af.mil), they have also been researching and delving into what is oft referred to as Social Media - also known as "those sites people couldn't reach until April."

The latest addition to this Social Media effort is a Kadena Facebook page. For those unfamiliar with the most-accessed internet site in the world, Facebook is a social networking site that boasts more daily hits than Google, and more than 400 million users worldwide. There are several Kadena Facebook pages out there, but the only official Kadena Air Base page as operated by the 18th Wing is located at www.facebook.com/KadenaAirBase.

The longest-living of PA's social media efforts here so far is Twitter. Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read messages known as tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters displayed on the author's profile page and delivered to the author's subscribers.

Kadena's Twitter account features "Tweets" about the latest news on Kadena, upcoming events, or tips for Team Kadena members to include emergency notifications during natural disasters. People can access Twitter from their computers, home workstations and cell phones - even here in Japan.

During February's tsunami scare, Public Affairs used Twitter to directly communicate with local residents, both SOFA and non-SOFA status. More than a dozen "Tweets" were sent out before, during and after the tsunami warnings in addition to updating the base Web page with information and interacting with people who had questions.

Public Affairs Airmen also maintain Kadena YouTube and Flickr accounts. The difference between getting the videos from the Kadena public web and these sites will be that PA encourages submissions of cool, yet appropriate, photos and videos from members of Team Kadena. That's right. The Airmen at PA realize that while they are supposed to be the Air Force's "official" storytellers, there are many at Team Kadena who possess these skills as well.

Anyone wishing to submit appropriate photos or videos for consideration needs only send them to infotech@kadena.af.mil, and the PA staff will review them for security and propriety, and then upload them as soon as they can. These sites are located at www.youtube.com/KadenaAirBase and www.flickr.com/KadenaAirBase.

Surely all of these efforts aren't just to add to the workload for PA Airmen, but to give additional options for Team Kadena members to receive information in the manner they want; and in many cases, contribute directly to the content.

Kadena is not alone in embracing these new ways of doing business. For more than a year, Pacific Air Forces has been hosting a blog called PACAF Pixels. Located at www.pacafpixels.com, the blog allows everyday Airmen to talk about their experiences in the Air Force. To submit a written blog, simply send your story and other associated media to infotech@kadena.af.mil.

The World Wide Web can be a scary place for many people. But when OPSEC, propriety and common sense are applied, it is an invaluable tool in telling the Air Force story, discussing the issues of the day, and affecting positive change. Public Affairs Airmen are not the only ones who are telling the Air Force story. Every Airman and family member can tell it too.

Here's everyone's chance to make a difference.