This document outlines a plan to build community among geographically dispersed military families through engaged social media presence. It notes that military families now turn to social media rather than traditional channels for information and support. The plan calls for listening to families' needs, providing trusted information, and encouraging two-way participation. By connecting isolated families to resources and each other, social media can boost readiness, retention, and decrease loneliness amid the challenges of military life.

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2. OUR MISSION is to draw geographically dispersed families together.
To BUILD COMMUNITY despite location or demographic.
To CONNECT military families with the RIGHT information
from a TRUSTED source.
We must not fear change, but EMBRACE IT.
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3. OUR MILITARY COMMUNITY HAS EVOLVED
Studies show the strain on geographically dispersed military families.
Gone are the days we wait on a telegraph or letter in the mail.
When information is needed, service members and their families turn
to the web before they turn to the military chain of command.
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4. WHY SOCIAL MEDIA
Social Media is now the driving force connecting
people, resources and information.
Without a engaging social media presence, we cannot
effectively influence the information shared with our service
members and their families.
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5. • Families turn to resources that are
unreliable for information
• Valuable programs are unable to
reach the people that would benefit most
• Mission critical information is shared
openly
• Service members are targets for
scams
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EXISTING RISKS

6. THE POSSIBILITIES OF ENGAGED PRESENCE
• Trusted resource for military families turn to first
• Communication how they want it, when they want it, where they want it
• Connect people with resources
• Collaboration across service branches
• Volunteer recruitment
• Collaboration on key initiatives impacting military families
• Platform for education and awareness
• OPSEC
• PERSEC
• Suicide Prevention
• PTSD support
• Sexual Assault Prevention
• Domestic violence support
• Scams, phishing and hacking
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7. WHERE ARE WE MISSING THE MARK?
Trusted sites are hard to distinguish
We lack engagement
• Members will “Like” a page but rarely have the ability to post content, ask
questions, or share experiences
We lack participation due to lack of trust and transparency
We allow fear of the inappropriate actions of few to impact the group
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8. “…has the potential to be a brand ambassador,
and…
each one represents an extended network.”
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Every service member and their family
To lead change,
we must change the way we think.

9. Our unit is stronger if our soldiers and families are :
• Focused
• Well informed
• Financially stable
• Physically healthy
• Mentally healthy
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CONNECTED

10. We must stop broadcasting and
“…start reading, listening and understanding”
to what our military families have to say.
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We must stop blocking their opportunity to post and be heard,
and instead pause to listen and respond
to their questions and concerns.

11. Let’s build community, despite geographic dispersion, by
giving our families a voice in a safe and protected unit page.
To build trust among followers it will be important
to be a proactive source of information.
With monthly Virtual Town Hall events, unit families can connect
with guest speakers monthly to ask questions and hear important
updates from the command.
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12. To engage across the unit, participation must be seen from the top down, with
leadership participation and involvement.
Information shared must be both relevant and current, not limited to one
particular geographical area.
Content should be targeted to all demographics including married soldiers,
single soldiers, and parents.
A written social media plan should be developed for each fiscal year with involvement
from constituents, with feedback transparently solicited from the unit
page.
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13. Topics should evolve with the stages of the deployment cycle.
Recurrent and engaging emphasis should be placed on Operational
Security (OPSEC) and Personal Security (PERSEC).
Violations to OPSEC and PERSEC should be addressed swiftly and
professionally, educating those involved to why the action they
took is dangerous to themselves or others.
We must commit to an environment of
collaboration, education and trust.
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14. Transparency inspires trust and alignment to our mutual goals:
a well prepared, well trained, effective military.
People believe in things they are a part of developing, we must embrace
comments and inquiries as opportunity to increase participation.
Negativity or complaints should not be removed or hidden, with rare exception,
and instead used to exhibit commitment to listening to the voice of
the families, and to get a pulse for the health of our military
community.
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15. When families reach out we must welcome and connect them with
resources to enhance their experience or situation.
Trusted resources, vendors, and community support programs should be
promoted and celebrated for their
contributions in support of military families.
We must focus on celebrating the honor of service and the
special moments such as promotions, birthdays, births
and retirements.
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16. RESULTS WE CAN EXPECT
Increases in:
• Readiness and resiliency in our military families
• Retention of our service members
• Participation in unit events
• Awareness to the health of the unit
• Communication between enlisted families and the command
Decreases in:
• Feelings of Isolation amongst service members and their families
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17. WE WILL HAVE BUILT
COMMUNITY
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18. WORKS CITED
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• Porter, Claire. “Ten things businesses get wrong in social media.” Herald Sun.
Web. 9 Aug. 2013
• Anderson, Tim. “Engage, don’t broadcast: the need for authenticity in social
media.” The Guardian. Web. 11 Aug. 2013.
• Newell, Graeme. “The ten commandments of social media marketing.”
Business 2 Community. Web. 15 Aug. 2013.
• Griffin, Clayburn. “The biggest missed opportunity in social media: Leverage
your employee base to amplify your social media efforts.” Social Media
Explorer. Web. 16 Aug. 2013.
• “Social media guide for military families.” Blue Star Families. Web. 16 Aug.
2013.
• “Social media and military families.” National Military Family Association.
Web. 16 Aug. 2013.