How effective can Social Media be for senior military leaders?

2015-05-21T00:08:18-04:00

With the CSAF's first Google Hangout planned for 1230 PST tomorrow, it would be interesting to hear everyone's thoughts on senior military leaders using social media to reach out and touch their troops. Now that we've had some time to read through General (Ret) McChrystal's live Q&A, what are thoughts on current and former military leaders taking to G+, Twitter, Facebook, and RallyPoint to send along their updates and answer your questions directly?
Do you support this method of communication or are there reasons you are hesitant towards leaders adopting it?

I find it impressive when leaders are able to carve out new ways to form connections with their troops. For the average service member on active duty, we may never meet a Chief of Staff in person or anyone above an O-6. I think following your senior leaders on social media allows you to grasp their leadership style and personality in a way you may have never had the opportunity to do. Plus, you might even get a direct question answered along the way!

Here is the link to tomorrow's Google hangout if anyone is interested in attending.

Google+

Response by SGT David T. made May 21 at 2015 12:13 AM

2015-05-21T00:13:11-04:00

Its a way to unfilter the message to force. As guidance and policies make their way up and down the chain of command each layer filters and adds things so that the original intent is list by the time it reaches the end. Sort of like the phone game we played as kids.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made May 21 at 2015 6:14 AM

2015-05-21T06:14:16-04:00

I hope this will be adopted but it has its pros and cons. Yes, its a great way to reach a wide audience and is a new way to connect and network at several levels. But, social media isn't required, you don't sign off on receiving a message and can be just as ignored as a phone call, voice mail or email.

Will it be a 2 way method of communications? It's great that GEN McChrystal took some time out to answer questions here on RP! That was a planned, one time event. Hypothetically, can he be reached for follow up, will he be able to answer more questions? Leaders at that level don't have the time for social media monitoring and even with a staff, what would the expectation be of receiving a response outside the event time? Now if this was a periodic forum for a senior leader, say once a quarter, then that could be effective and show that a senior leader is willing to make time to address the troops outside of the "dog & pony show" atmosphere

A lot of filtering would have to be in place to insure the questions asked are relevant and answerable. You know some boob like (no names) me would throw in a zinger, and a few of them may get through to keep the Q&A session lively but the focus would be primarily on answering mainstream, policy focused questions. Will this satisfy a mass audience?

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made May 21 at 2015 7:40 AM

2015-05-21T07:40:54-04:00

Given the multiple times that the CSAF has said he is frustrated with how policies, information and decisions are not making it down to the lowest level, this is an effective way to put it out there and really engage with the lower tiers without the "dog and pony show" of a base visit or the pre-selected/pre-filtered questions that often come with Sr Leader Town Halls.

Disclaimer: My thoughts are my own and do not represent the opinion of the Air Force

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made May 21 at 2015 9:14 AM

2015-05-21T09:14:36-04:00

I'm trying to phrase this right, so I'll use a metaphor. Generals are looking at one Map on a different Scale, much like pilots do. Junior enlisted are looking at gridsquares. The general can't even see those on his map. Unless someone tells him to break out another map entirely, he won't even know there is an issue. Social Media, is the tool that let's him know to swap maps.

The Chain of Command is a great tool, however it has an inherent flaw. A General doesn't get a lot of face time with a Private. There's too many filters between highest and lowest. Heck, a SgtMaj doesn't get a lot of facetime with the Cpls. Too many layers, too many bodies. I assume on the officer side it's a little better, because less bodies, less layers.

So that said, take a look at a couple of the issues that are important to "troops." And these are "social media worthy"

- Tattoo policy (was modified for Army)
- Rolled sleeves (was reversed)

These are prime examples of things that could have been done via a Social Media Outlet, since it shows how much support/outrage exists on a given issue.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2015 12:56 PM

2015-05-21T12:56:09-04:00

How many policy letters, memorandums and unwritten rules are out there? How many know them all and how many unwritten rules are without basis?

This is a methodology to get the message through to the masses as well as answering the questions that are nagging everyone. It can become a written record for reference as well as something that can be spread quickly. It can be a top or bottom driven. It can become a discourse or a directive.

There is a lot to gain in such a forum.

Response by COL Charles Williams made May 21 at 2015 9:30 PM

2015-05-21T21:30:44-04:00

I would say Capt Brandon Charters that it can be very effective. When I was attending the pre-command course for Brigade Command, one of speakers (LTG) explained that we needed to embrace and use social media, as that was the world our Soldiers and families.

When I went into Garrison Command, at an installation with an average daily population of over 50,000, I immediately established several methods anyone could access me. I had an "Ask the Garrison Commander" link on our www page, and I established a Facebook Page that only I had the ability to answer. I believed it is was key that I was the one Soldiers and families were communication with.

First, and foremost, I always would encourage Soldiers and families to use their chains of command first.

The Facebook Page was great, but it took a lot of work, as I decided if it was to be effective, I needed to be one answering and keeping up, not my staff; like most do. This meant I was doing this after all the other work was done. My executive assistant would monitor it, incase anything popped up I needed to answer quickly, or needed to be aware of. But, the answers always came from me. I answered every comment.

My boss said he could always gage the pulse of our community by the comments and themes on our Facebook Page.

It allowed me to hear/know what was troubling families, and what the issues were. And it allowed me to provide feedback directly to many who would have never had the opportunity to ask directly otherwise.

I also got a lot of positive feedback their too.

I think it is very effective.

If you want to know how you are doing... you need to be willing to ask.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2015 10:12 PM

2015-05-28T22:12:58-04:00

Social media is like any other tool/weapon. It can be powerful and effective, if used appropriately. If abused, it can also cause a lot of damage.

Response by Terry Rogers made Oct 28 at 2020 10:04 AM

2020-10-28T10:04:53-04:00

I think It's a great info channel to keep civilian informed, knowledgeable, and prevent misunderstanding with soldiers` families. People need to know what is going on to feel safe, and, in my opinion, military leaders' social media profiles are the most authoritative ways to notify them.
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