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Marines Net 1 Million Facebook Fans

The last service to enter the social media space, the Marine Corps now leads the way in the era of emerging media. Story»

Featured Articles

Social Media Shapes Military

The Defense Department and all of its components use Facebook and other social media tools to help promote their initiatives as the entire informational environment continues to evolve and new approaches to marketing are impacted. Story»

Deputy Secretary Meets
With Facebook Employees

Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III met with the employees of Facebook, the ubiquitous social media company, to discuss the Defense Department's approach to social media. Story»

Social Media Sites Provide Morale Boost, Official Says

A newly introduced Defense Department social media policy opens doors that can provide a morale boost for families and troops serving in a war zone, a senior official who helped to design the policy said this week. Story»

New Policy Authorizes Social Media Access, With Caveats

Attention all Facebookers, Twitter tweeters and YouTubers: a new Defense Department policy authorizes you to access these and other Web 2.0 platforms from nonclassified government computers, as long as it doesn’t compromise operational security or involve prohibited activities or Web sites. Story»

Defense Department to Announce Social Media Policy

Defense Department officials plan to forward a social media policy to the department leadership within the next two weeks that will balance the pros and cons of social networking sites, the department’s top public affairs official said on National Public Radio’s “Talk of the Nation” yesterday. Story»

Defense Department Web Site Eases Information Delivery

Defense.gov Web site thumbnailThe new Defense Department Web site is designed to make military news and information more accessible, and also invites greater participation from the public. Story»

Gates, Mullen Use New Media
To Hear from Troops, Public

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have launched interactive, virtual town hall sessions through the Internet. Story»

Pentagon Officials Say:
'We Want to Hear from You'

Defense officials at the Pentagon have redesigned the Defense Department Web site to use social networking tools to engage the American public -- particularly 18- to 24-year-olds. Story»

Guard Embraces Social Media

Even in the 140-character brevity demanded of a "tweet," the enthusiasm National Guardsmen have for communicating through Twitter software is evident. Story»

Officials Look to Solve Social Network Risks Without Ban

As Pentagon officials weigh the benefits and risks of social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook, they hope to craft a policy that shores up security vulnerabilities without requiring a ban. Story»

Pentagon Weighs Social
Networking Benefits

A Defense Department review is weighing the benefits of social networking and other Web 2.0 platforms against potential security vulnerabilities they create. Story»

Southcom Embraces
Impact of Social Media

Commands exploring the best way to get involved in social media might want to consider the experience of U.S. Southern Command, the first combatant command to embrace these new communication forms. Story»

Iraq Social Media Experience Sparks Training for Leaders

Army Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell IVArmy Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV discovered the power of social networking in 2007 when he was the U.S. military’s top spokesman in Iraq. Now he’s working to share that recognition throughout the military as he helps develop a new generation of social-media savvy military leaders. Story»

Army Leverages Social
Media to Promote Recruiting

When young people began flocking to MySpace about two years ago, the Army recognized social networks as a whole new way to reach its primary recruiting population. Story»

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U.S. Forces Afghanistan Facebook Surpasses 20,000

U.S. Forces Afghanistan logoU.S. Forces Afghanistan’s Facebook page has logged its 20,000th fan, passing the milestone a little more than two months after going public by adding more than 250 followers a day. Story»

Military Health System
Embraces Social Media

The Military Health System is one of the many Defense Department organizations embracing social networking to provide information and receive feedback from servicemembers. Story»

Commander Uses Blog to Communicate Goals

Commander StavridisThe day he assumed his post as NATO’s supreme allied commander for Europe, Navy Adm. James Stavridis reached out in a way none of the previous 15 NATO commanders since Army Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower had: he posted a blog. Story»

Centcom Climbs Aboard
Social Media Train

As social sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube storm the world, United States Central Command has begun their Twittering and Facebooking in order to better reach the people around the world and get the word out about operations and what's happening in the area of operations. Story»

Social Networking 'Huge
Win for Freedom'

Defense Secretary Robert M. GatesAs protestors in Iran demonstrate the power of social networking, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates called the freedom of communication afforded by communications technologies “a huge strategic asset for the United States.” Story»

New Chief to Transform Communications

The new appointee to lead Defense Department public affairs, Price Floyd, brings a dual objective to the office: improve the way the department communicates and solicit feedback in the process. Story»