I was thrilled to see that regarding emerging technologies and Web 2.0, the Air Force is getting it right, and have some of its young PAs to thank for leading the way. (And as an amateur/aspiring military blogger, one day, I'd love to be quoted in a story like this):

Air Force makes about-face to embrace Web 2.0
Service keeps careful eye on shaping public perception
By Sam LaGrone - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Jan 9, 2009 16:36:25 EST

The Air Force’s new front in shaping its public reputation and fighting enemy propaganda is YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and the blogosphere. The move is an about-face from the service’s long reluctance to engage Web 2.0.

The Air Force Public Affairs Agency stood up its emerging technology office in October in part to counter online enemies increasingly savvy in information warfare. (link)

I'm incredibly proud of my military service, and have only a few peccadilloes outstanding from my time in uniform. For instance, towards the end, there were a number of occasions I felt the service stifled creativity--a tactic that admittedly does serve a purpose. Since I left, I found one of my former Wing/CCs responding to blog posts, which is great, because it's showing initiative in blazing the path towards the type of thinking currently promoted by these latest efforts.

Among all the positive experiences I've taken with me to my post-military life one aspect of my service I continue to appreciate is the common-sense problem solving that years of trial and error bestowed upon the branches of the military. For example, this decision matrix:

This matrix dumbs things down, but empowers the end user to make decisions. Granted, the UCMJ and good order and discipline mandates might make one a little squemish about what they're willing to tag their name/online handle to, but in the "real world," a decision matrix like this is incredibly handy in providing guidelines from which you can improvise and build upon--like a good jazz musician. And things don't get much more creative than Miles Davis, my friend.

As an aside, I'll never forget the confidence and sense of accomplishment I felt after jumping out of airplanes on my own. It took a few years to dawn on me that the parachute training program had less to do with learning about jumping out of planes and more to do with instilling a trust in the Air Force's training methods, and inspiring self-confidence in applying this learned behavior.

And that's my essence of the military. Their are those dedicated (whether patriotically or selfishly) to making a career of things. Then there are those of us who gave a lot and were given even more. As a veteran's advocate, I strive to impress upon those I work with or encounter professionally a level of competence that then carries over to the next veteran they have a chance to work with or hire. With the skills and experiences I gained from the Air Force, this is my opportunity to pay things forward.

Nice work by Capt. Faggard (whom I've never met, but share mutual acquaintances) in pushing the envelope here. I hope he keeps up the good work, guys like him are the future of the Air Force, and as our generation rises in the ranks, we need to continue to maintain the cutting edge in technology, strategy and communicaitons.

Labels: Air Force