Airmen remain vigilant with social media access

  • Published
  • By Connie Hempel
  • 17th Training Wing
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Just over a year ago, Air Education and Training Command granted social media access on government computers, and although another commander has taken the reigns of AETC since then, expectations and the rules of engagement for every Airman have not changed.

In a memo sent out this month, Gen. Edward Rice, AETC Commander, stated that every Airman is responsible for their "electronic conduct" and must abide by the same basic rules online as they would in any public forum.

"Despite these newer networking and information crossflow capabilities, the fact is, the rules for computer use have not changed," the general wrote. "When accessing social media sites we must continue to act in a professional manner and practice safe online activity to protect our operational network."

In the past public affairs Airmen held the responsibility for communicating with the media and public. But, as social media enables messages to spread farther, quicker, to vast audiences, all Airmen are encouraged to share this responsibility and help promote the public's understanding of the Air Force by using social media tools. Airmen can to this by talking about topics within their area of expertise; however, Airmen must remember that they are Airmen 24/7.

Col. Mark Damiano, 17th Training Wing Commander, said that while social media is a great tool, remember it is a privilege and remain vigilant.

"Social media sites give us access to a broad audience, and we should take advantage of that," Colonel Damiano said. "But, we must also keep in mind that the enemy is also online. This means what we post on social media sites could be used against us. Although a single post may not give the whole picture, the enemy gathers pieces of the puzzle from various resources and puts that puzzle together."

GUIDE FOR SOCIAL MEDIA:
· Limited personal use approved by supervisor and not detrimental to the mission.
· Official use must fall in-line with public affairs and operational security policies and guidelines.
· Ensure information is relevant, accurate and contains no personal identifiable information.
· Do not store/process classified information on non-approved systems.
· Do not store, process, display, send or transmit prohibited content (adult content, hate speech, gambling, illegal weapons, etc.)
· Conduct yourself professionally at all times, both in text and imagery
· If you are unsure, seek command or public affairs guidance, especially for issues beyond your expertise; always follow guidance in Air Force instructions 33-129 and 33-115.

The 17th Medical Group has been using Facebook to communicate with its patients since November 2010.

The MDG Facebook page contains information on upcoming events, closures as well as useful information about TRICARE benefits. When clinic renovations begin in the fall, Facebook will be used to give patients the latest updates on how the construction may affect their visit. The group's Facebook page also offers patients a convenient avenue to have their problems addressed by leaving comments for the medical staff.

Capt David Abbott, TRICARE Operations and Patient Administration Flight Commander, said Facebook is a valuable tool for the medical group.

"Facebook allows the medical group the ability to get information to our patients quickly and improves our ability to communicate with them," Abbott said. "Furthermore, it integrates with our other customer service programs to improve our overall patient satisfaction."

He said that with more than 125 "friends" the medical group has received a lot of positive feedback from patients concerning the Facebook page.

Just login to Facebook and search for: Goodfellow AFB Medics.

Goodfellow also has a Facebook page which posts the latest Air Force and local base information. Its page is also one medium used to notify Team Goodfellow of important information in a timely manner. Login to Facebook and search: "Goodfellow.AFB" to add as a friend. A list of all Air Force Social Media outlets can be found at www.af.mil/socialmedia.asp.