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Communication - How are we doing?

Friday, 20 November 2009

By MG James Terry

We have a lot of venues for communication and information here: FRGs, the Mountaineer, DrumTV, Channel 13, the Fort Drum and Task Force Mountain websites, etc. But I keep hearing Soldiers and Families don't feel like they are informed of what's going on.

How do you get your information? What is the most effective way for me to get the community the information they need?

Comments (19)

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Here is exactly what I am taking about. Here is a link to the Mountaineer. http://www.drum.army.mil/sites/postnews/blizzard/blizzard_online/index.asp No Update.

Here is a link the Drum TV. http://www.drum.army.mil/sites/installation/pao/drumtv/ What was to be a weekly show is updated once a month if we are lucky.

Here is a link to what was the best blog for 2BCT. http://commandosof2bct.blogspot.com/2006/12/providers-give-soldiers-necessary-tools.html Apearently, this was never handed off.

Here is a link to my soldier's company newsletter. http://www.drum.army.mil/sites/tenants/division/2BCT/4-31INF/newsletter.asp No update in almost a year. Any questions?

The paper hasn't even been published on the internet in forever. When will it return? No wonder some are in the dark!

(Moderator Comment: The Mountaineer is published on line every Friday and can be found at: http://www.drum.army.mil/sites/postnews/mountaineer/mountaineer_online/index.asp)

For those of us who do not live on post, getting information and staying informed needs to be made a priority. I probably get to Fort Drum maybe once a week, but definitely more than once a month.

Drum TV is not an option if you live off-post, therefore, I try to remember to pick up a Mountaineer (though to be honest, I don't care much for the DoD "voice" it has and by the time I read it, I've already heard most of the important/interesting stuff from other sources). The Preview is a great reference.

The greatest resources are my husband and emails from my FRG leader. What I would welcome would be an improved Drum website where stories could be posted daily (much like a newspaper's website) as well as an events calendar where you could click on a day to see what might be happening that day or next week.

I also think some sort of sign-up or opt-in to recieve text messages, tweets or Facebook postings is a great idea especially with winter weather approaching -- it would be very handy to receive info via this manner to be alerted of delayed reporting, for example, or God forbid, to provide emergency information if something happened we needed to know about (Fort Hood, for example).

(Moderator Comment: Drum TV is accessible to off-post residents at: http://www.drum.army.mil/sites/installation/pao/drumtv/. Also the Fort Drum website is in fact, in the opening stages of redesign. Your feedback would be appreciated if you'd care to complete the survey found at: http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB229TPVS77FD )

Sir, I think that one of the biggest problems is that we have too many different locations to look for information with each location providing different information. In order to see everything that is going on you have to read a paper, talk to your spouse, check your email, check the local news, and or an entire host of other things to get the full picture.

I think an "information clearinghouse" would be helpful. Rather then having to go to seven different places to get information it would be great if I could go to one website and have all the agencies. This way I would not have to check one paper for MWR, another for post activities, and another to see when the snowblower classes are, then another one to see what the holiday hours at clark hall are, and another to know that there is a blood drive.

(Moderator Comment: Please help us with your comments on redesigning the Fort Drum website at: http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB229TPVS77FD)

I must agree with J. Walls and MamaWolf. Their is plenty of information out there and people are not paying attention or waiting for someone else to find the information for them. Communication and advertising on Fort Drum is fantastic. There are so many ways that information is put out that you have to have your head buried in the snow not to know what is going on. It is a lack of personal responsiblity for our own well-being and the expectation that the Army is going to spoon feed us every little thing that leads to people crying that they aren't informed. People MUST take responsibility and actually get off their duff's and go out and SEEK information. As MamaWolf said...it takes very minimal effort to find out what is going on in our community.

I get my information from the Mountaineer, the Preview, ACS, the radio, Fort Drum website, newzjunky, emails from my FRG, from my husband, word of mouth and from the diplays in the PX parking lot and at the route 11 gate that are constantly flashing information just to name a few.

As for Simple Simon's comment that there needs to be "Smart book". A "Smart book" describing programs and services available on Ft Drum and many in the surrounding communities is already available at ACS and on the Ft. Drum website. It is my understanding that every Soldier gets one in the Welcome Packet. It is the SOLDIER'S RESPONSIBLITY to give it to their Family member. Personally, I like flyers. It gives me something to post on my bulletin board at home that I can see regularly and serves as a reminder that the event is happening. I also like the flyers and pamphlets that I get from ACS and the emails I get from my FRG. They may not work for you but that doesn't mean they don't work for others.

Keep up the great work with getting the word out!

Sir,
Some of the confusion may be related to the fact that, after almost eight weeks of deployment, we know neither the length of the deployment, nor whether RnR will be approved, or even offered, for this rotation.

These are the types of things that weigh on the minds of those left behind- and we're waiting, with baited breath, for word on what we can expect.

Furthermore, though my spouse has access to the internet, and a wide variety of means for communicating back home, she's rarely afforded the opportunity to utilize it. This isn't an indictment of your commitment to provide your soldiers with the ability to keep their families informed; there just appears to be a disconnect between the policy you communicate here, and the message carried forth by many of the NCOs in your charge.

Of course, maybe that's just MY soldier..

Sir,
The problem here will probably always be a problem. For one there is so many people that have to be told things. Its like the old telephone game, you start out telling the first five people we are going to Arbys by the time it gets to person 500 its now Subway. The problem here to is politics and red tape. There is so many times where the field grades know something but have to wait a day or a week to tell everybody else because we have to be politically correct about our timing. In the mean time field grades tell one person which in turn means 10 other people before the announcement comes out. I think we have to be honest with our troops, I understand there is OPSEC and such, but sometimes i ask my self REALLY, REALLY!!!

Its like our off ramp from Iraq, we knew for weeks but yet the higher ups or the Army decided they wanted to play games about it for a while. And then they say we dont have any orders, when we all know we are going to the stan. This all comes back to your morale question, lets cut the BS and start being honest with everybody and stop play politics 101 with everybody. With that said I have an idea to put information. Require every soldier and spouse to have a registered email, when something important comes out send out a mass email. Sure this isnt the best way, but its a tool that could be used once the word is out, this way everybody eventually has the true correct word. But this shouldnt be used to send out FRG events and clog mail boxes, use is at like emergency broadcast system.

I understand one posters arguement about not wanting to receive updates via text messaging, this is understandable. You could just opt out of being informed by this method if you choose. Something for everyone, just a thought.

What message does a no green fleece as an outer garment policy send when the item has name and rank on it send to Soldiers?

Sir - The old adage "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make them drink" seems appropriate here. There's only so much one can do without placing the responsibility on the individual. As you stated, "We have a lot of venues for communication and information here: FRGs, the Mountaineer, DrumTV, Channel 13, the Fort Drum and Task Force Mountain websites, etc." the only issue here is are those whom "don't feel like they are informed of what's going on." making the effort to find the information?

I am an FRG Leader, and SOME spouses tell me that they read EVERY email that I send. And some (I learned by a recent call-down) don't read ANY. I find that really disconcerting. I spend a lot of time trying to get the information out. I hear MY spouses complaining that they don't know about things, and when I ask them if they read the email that I sent about it, they say "what email?" Some try to act like I don't send them. But, little do they all know, I have a copy of every single email that I have EVER sent to my FRG, and who they were sent to. That being said, there is NO perfect way to do it. I think that Fort Drum is doing a beautiful job, but unfortunately, no matter how much you try to pound the information into people, they just DON'T get it, they ignore it, or they don't care. I have heard about some things on the radio that I didn't hear about anywhere else, and I have had some things that I learned through word of mouth, or by email. When it all comes down to it, we all have to have some sort of personal responsibility when it comes to information. It is available out there to all of us, but we can't just hide our heads, and ignore the world, and then complain about the Army and Fort Drum and our FRGs because we chose to be happily oblivious.

Sir,
There are many avenues for information to be diseminated. All newcomers are given a welcome packet with internet sites and pamphlets full in information or where to find it. The main responsibility of information gettting to the soldier is through the NCO's. Unfortunately these days, if NCO's do feel it is important to them or has any benefit for them, they decide not to pass information along. I always thought that is why there were morning and end of day formations. Information vital to help soldiers financially or recreationally is just as important for moral. Making sure information is getting out starts at the highest level.

Sir - I think your question here and a recent one are connected. The number of Army programs is amazing and the services provide assistance with nearly every problem a Soldier and family might encounter However, it is truly overwhelming to understand where all of these programs are on post. Please produce a playbook (a small smartbook) that every family can have at the ready. Furthermore, as per one of your recent questions, stop the madness of every agency and program feeling like they need to conduct events to draw people in, sell their program, or provide their own "little fun" for a spouse. The amount of fliers given out at the monthly CLIF and subsequently sent out, normally by e-mail by the FRSAs, overwhelms people to the point that they just delete the e-mail. I wonder how well any of these events are attended? Spouses and Soldiers want time together and spouses of deployed Soldiers need basic outlets for relief and survival. The amount of paper that hits the recycling center from ACS program ideas is incredible. Streamline and reduce the products and good ideas and just make people aware of the services.

I have a concern about reserve seating. "Directorates" continue to have reserved seating upfront, why? I have been to many ceremonies and dont see any Directorates there. If we are there to honor retirees and their family members as a "Community" then why are they not present? I thought they were here to support the soldier. I continue to see this during all ceremonies not just retirement ceremonies. It concerns me when soldiers are forced to go and participate in this ceremony and the Chain of Command is not even there to show a little bit of support for these soldiers. Are all these people above a ceremony? It is just plain disheartening to see this going on. My Warrior served for over 23 years and I am very proud of him.

Sorry Josh I don't like your idea of recieving informational text messages on my cell phone. It may be fine for you because you have an unlimited plan but I don't if I go over a certain number a month I get charged. If I start getting text messages from an automated system informing me of the latest celebration luncheon going on at the Commons I am going to expect to be compensated. Only certain people I work with gets my cell phone number with explicit instructions to use it for extreme emergencies.

Sir,
I must agree with Wall ... to a point. There are many avenues to get information for those willing to put forth very minimal effort, VERY minimal. Welcome booklets get mailed to family members because Soldiers may or may not take it home. Flyers are posted throughout companies and battalions, yet no one seems to read it. There are several Soldiers that I work with who I know have been around the flyers about no cell phone use while driving, yet I see them doing just that. The list goes on. Many Soldiers (not all) will find ways to not be at briefings, trainings, etc. Family Members will avoid briefings that may be of help to them because "I'm not the one in the Army" then LOUDLY cry foul when they miss out on something.
Out of the 3500+ Soldiers assigned to 3rd BCT, approximately 50% are married. That would mean around 1700 (roughly) spouses, yet less than 400 attended the reintegration briefings. All four briefings were publicized since July for briefings in October. Flyers posted and emailed, postings to vFRG, activations of phone trees, calls from Soldiers forward to their family members ... yet "I didn't know" was repeated over and over. A battalion with upcoming briefing ... 60 Soldiers, 30 spouses ... 1 spouse plans to attend (Soldiers don't have an option not to attend).

Now, I say to a point because there are other factors at play. Soldiers who say they are single when they are married. Soldiers who won't provide contact information for their spouses. Spouses who change emails or phone numbers to avoid contact. Spouses who block phone numbers from rear detachments and FRG volunteers. Ostrich syndrome.
The information is more than available. Fort Drum Information and Town Hall Meeting, Community Leaders Information Forum (CLIF), YMCA Area Events, Community Outreach Monthly calendars, the kiosk at the mall, Welcome packets from the Division and some battalions,FRG newsletters, Virtual FRG, FRG Meetings, the entire ACS building, Army Family Team Building Training, The Mountaineer (provided at Kinney Drug, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Stewarts, the former 801 housing areas off post to get the 65% that does not live on post), the MFLCs in the IRCSD and CCSD as well as on post, Drum TV, Flyers all over the installation as well as the civilian community, scrolling marquees, informational tables at the PX, (sorry if I missed any).
The only change would making briefings mandatory for family members as well as Soldiers. Holding Soldiers accountable for falsifying information to the company and battalion leadership. Don't hold housing units for family members who leave the area. Yes, basically drop the hammer. Yes, I know this will NEVER happen.

Sir, I think there is plenty of information flowing around our Mountain Warrior World. Those who are complaining are just making excuses when asked "Didn't you know?" after they made a mistake. It's yet another "lazy man's / lazy person's excuse" to complain about anything and everything. There are plenty of information resources available on Fort Drum and the surrounding community. Soldier's who can't find pertinent information or complain about not knowing something just aren't paying attention in formation / at work. Family members (dependent's and significant others), and the local community can find plenty of information on the various community websites (task force mtn.com, newsjunky.com, etc.) and other community resources (ACS, PAO, etc.). There is no need to run news bulletins on FB and Twitter. People just need to grow up, take charge of there lives and stop making excuses.

Sir:

If there is going to be a blog where we can express ourselves freely, there should be a way for us to do so without posting our names and/or contacts. For instance, I should be able to post something where you could contact me for more info, but not where there could be retaliation for differing in opinions with someone else. I'm not talking about posting stuff that should go through alternative resources...i.e..IG...but just general (no pun intended) discussion about how to best go about whatever subject is being blogged.

(Moderator Comment: Your comment is certainly understandable and we do address concerns of privacy/anonymity in the blog comment policy. There is no requirement to use your acutal name/email address; indeed many contributors use a pseudonym, their Yahoo, Hotmail, etc., to maintain a point of contact while keeping a degree of anonymity. That said, NO email addresses (real or fake) go beyond the moderator except at the contributor's request.)

I think with today's technology the best way to get everyone in the know is by informing them through social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, MySpace) and texts messages. I think you would be hard pressed to find someone in the Army that does not have a cell phone. More high end phones even have applications to social networking sites.

I think these forms of communication would be the best to reach service members.

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