When did FYSA replace FYI?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Apr 2017 03:34:28 -0400

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2017 3:37 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Apr 2017 03:37:21 -0400

When I was in, everything was FYI (for your information). That was up until 1999. When I went back to work as a contractor at SOCOM HQs in 2010, everyone was using FYSA (for your situational awareness). At first I thought it was a joke--if you are informed about something, doesn't that become part of your situational awareness? But it turned out that FYSA was used for everything, without an FYI to be found. So who came up with that idea, and I bet they got an MSM when they left the Pentagon for doing it. ;)

Although this whole thing made me think about my commo class in the basic course. We were learning the meaning of words like WILCO, ROGER, and the phonetic alphabet. I remember the comms NCO telling us to stop saying "be advised' at the start of a message and just tell them what you need to tell them. Because once you told them, then they ARE advised.

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Apr 21 at 2017 7:55 AM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Fri, 21 Apr 2017 07:55:24 -0400

I'm aware of my situation, I want you to have information about it. Of course I'm an old fart so will stick with FYI.

Response by SGT David T. made Apr 21 at 2017 8:20 AM

SGT David T. — Fri, 21 Apr 2017 08:20:00 -0400

My best guess is because the military has a tendency to be overly wordy on things.

Response by Col Joseph Lenertz made Apr 21 at 2017 8:20 AM

Col Joseph Lenertz — Fri, 21 Apr 2017 08:20:19 -0400

My theory is fighter pilots. They were talking SA in the 70s and 80s, shooting their watches. They care more about SA than gas, until they don't have gas. --Tanker Pilot Joe

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Apr 21 at 2017 9:44 AM

COL Vincent Stoneking — Fri, 21 Apr 2017 09:44:04 -0400

I actually use both, and use them for specific purposes.
FYI - This is some stuff you need to know that is relevant to something you may need to act on/Your job. (FYI - Senior rater has stated that he will do SR Option OERS prior to departing station.)
FYSA - This is some stuff that is probably good for you to know. But probably doesn't require any action on your part. Good background info.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Apr 21 at 2017 10:19 AM

LTC Stephen C. — Fri, 21 Apr 2017 10:19:56 -0400

LTC Private RallyPoint Member, I'm old school and I've been retired since MAY98, so I didn't even know FYSA existed. FYI works for me.

Response by SFC Dennis A. made Apr 21 at 2017 10:31 AM

SFC Dennis A. — Fri, 21 Apr 2017 10:31:16 -0400

I just used "FYI" today. No reason to change now.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2017 1:31 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Apr 2017 13:31:27 -0400

LTC Private RallyPoint Member when someone realized they needed to change the military in order to get promoted or get an award. That was the best they came up with.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2017 8:34 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Apr 2017 08:34:05 -0400

I think it's a post 9/11 change. I never heard it before but after IED and VBIED training and awareness got popular everyone wanted to be "situationally aware". I've also noticed "Stay Alert/Stay Alive" make a comeback.