Taking our Web Presence to a New Level

I've always found the term "Webmaster" humorous, but now that I’ve assumed that position for the Army Reserve I’m not laughing anymore. No, I’ve not discovered a newfound meaning of the word, nor have I begun to take myself way too seriously. What I’ve realized within the first few days of this new responsibility is how to use this incredibly versatile forum to accomplish some amazing things. That’s where all of you come in!

Brian Solis, one of the pioneers of social media, or Web 2.0 (fancy name for everything from blogosphere to Facebook), said “"Social Media is the democratization of content and the understanding of how people read, experience, share and create content for others to participate in. It is the shift from a broadcast mechanism to a many-to-many model, rooted in a conversational format between authors and people.” Sharing content, and creating content for others to participate in the conversation!

In Army circles we always champion the importance of “two-way conversations." In counseling, our After Action Reviews, and in everything we do we can only hope to get real, honest and constructive feedback to make our organization better, no matter what level. Now, thanks to social media, we can do this online, in real time, and where anyone can participate.

The Army Reserve is an organization of over 200,000 Soldiers who serve in communities across the United States and around the world. For every Soldier there’s a family member --be it a father, a sister, a son, a daughter, a husband, a girlfriend who hopes to connect with their loved one, express their pride, and, at times, their frustrations with our organization. By taking part in this online conversation we learn and grow as an organization. By providing a place where online communities can share stories, best practices, common concerns and valuable resources we give the American people, no matter their affiliation with our organization, a place to find real and raw content that gives them a better understanding of who we are.

Now, here’s the catch…we need your help!

We need your comments, feedback, ideas, and stories. Whether you’re an employer who wants to wish a redeploying Soldier a “welcome home," or a member of the community who wants to share a story about your experience with a unit in your home town, or you’re a Soldier who wants to describe an experience overseas you have something incredibly valuable to add to the conversation. So, as the “Webmaster” I ask all of you for your feedback, ideas, and input as to how we can take our website (www.usar.army.mil), our blog and our social media sites (Myarmyreserve @ Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr) to the next level.

I look forward to the challenges ahead and I know I have the best job in the Army even though I’m not laughing about it anymore.

Lt. Col. Andrew Morton
Webmaster/ Chief of Social Media, Army Reserve
www.usar.army.mil
Twitter: @myarmyreserve
Facebook: /myarmyreserve
Flicker: /myarmyreserve

Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor's Porch Day: missives from Iraq

Good afternoon and greetings from Balad, Iraq!

The temperatures are averaging at about 116 degrees this week, but in the evenings we have been buried underneath a layer fine silt from dust storms, making our evenings look murky, and causing me to rub my eyes in case I have any way of influencing the environment and its lack of clarity.

This week you will see many changes as some of our writers have been or will be transitioning out. This will be CPL Barkemeyer's last music review. He will be headed home to enjoy his Family and friends. We wish him well as he has become a part of our Family and will be missed. You will also see a new sports section that SFC Calef is introducing this week. All in all - I hope you enjoy the transition. Write in and let us know.

Learn more about the 103rd ESC's mission to manage a huge portion of the "retrograde" operations - the mission to pull troops and equipment out of Iraq.

On that note, I am delighted to be sending you this week's early edition of the Expeditionary Times, and all of the news stories of our Troops and their units across Iraq.

International Forgiveness Day: missives from Iraq

Good afternoon and greetings from Balad, Iraq!

The temperatures seem to average at about 113 degrees here at Joint Base Balad lately, so I believe I'm going to start with something more exciting this week.

The 103rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, in coordination with the Defense Visual Information Distribution System, will be hosting Lollapalooza 2010 LIVE from Balad, Iraq!

Learn more about the 103rd ESC's mission to manage a huge portion of the "retrograde" operations - the mission to pull troops and equipment out of Iraq.

That's right - we will have troops listening to Soundgarden and Green Day LIVE from our studio on Joint Base Balad this Sunday and Monday morning. We have a very special surprise for some of the fans attending the concert as well, but attendance is limited based on studio size. Check out our flyer in this week's edition and contact us!

East Bay Stand-Down

John Morgan and Lady

John Morgan, a scruffy, friendly, curly-haired man with pork chop sideburns and his Chihuahua Lady have been on the streets for 10 years. They lived under bushes, behind parking lots, latched to trees and in dumpsters. Morgan arrived at the East Bay Stand-Down with other homeless Veterans but his processing was delayed due to the fact that he cannot produce documentation proving Lady is a service dog, though he repeatedly assures me she is.

Today is day one of a four day event designed to bring homeless veterans and resources together in one place.

Organizations from near and far, including one belonging to the Army Reserve – the Western Medical Area Readiness Support Group that is here under the Innovative Readiness Training Program - are all in one place at the Alameda County Fairgrounds to provided temporary shelter to honorably discharged homeless Veterans.

The pathway to a new hope for homeless veterans

Service members, volunteers and East Bay Stand Down

participants stand together during the final flag event

The aim of East Bay Stand Down is “to set up a pathway for (the Veterans) to break free from the problems that they have found themselves in,” - Denver Mills, Founder and Executive Board Chair for East Bay Stand Down.

As the four-day stand down draws to a close, uniformed Soldiers of Army Reserve Medical Command’s Western Medical Area Support Group form up around the flagpole, joined by volunteers from the Coast Guard, Navy and Air Force Reserve. The attending Veterans straggle behind as the 1700 hour closes in. Some come to parade rest. A woman places her hand on the woman in front of her, dress right dress. As the flag draws down, some of the participants struggle to hold back tears, while others straighten their hunched shoulders, resolutely setting their jaws. Salutes are rendered. In front of the flag that each of them at one time had sworn to protect, the troubles that led them here fade away and just for a moment, all that is left is the Soldier, Airman, Marine or service member who once raised their hand on behalf of a grateful nation.

Looking to chaplains and attending mental health specialists for help and solace.

Chaplain (LTC) Graham Harbman, Joint

Special Troops Command and Attendee

Bart Horn join in prayer. Photo by Cpt.

Anthony John

According to The National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Survey as reported by the Department of Veterans Affairs, “The estimated lifetime prevalence of PTSD among American Vietnam theater veterans is 30.9% for men and 26.9% for women. An additional 22.5% of men and 21.2% of women have had partial PTSD at some point in their lives. Thus, more than half of all male Vietnam veterans and almost half of all female Vietnam veterans -about 1,700,000 Vietnam veterans in all- have experienced ‘clinically serious stress reaction symptoms.’"


The impact of that can be seen here, at the East Bay Stand Down, as many among the attendees are Vietnam War veterans. They look to the chaplains and the attending mental health specialists and nurses, and social services for help and solace.

The temperatures were fibbing today I believe - Missives from Iraq

The following is from MAJ Angel Wallace - Chief of Media Affairs at 103rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, Joint Base Balad, Iraq.

Good afternoon and greetings from Balad, Iraq!

The temperatures were fibbing today I believe. For those of us wandering around Joint Base Balad, it felt really toasty, but our friends managing the weather said it was merely 107 degrees. Hmmm...

Before I transition to the highlights of this week's edition of the Expeditionary Times, it is important that I draw your attention to a special message from 103rd ESC Commander, BG Mark Corson, encouraging our Soldiers to participate in the Absentee Ballot Voting process - Ensure you make your vote count!
http://www.dvidshub.net/?script=video/video_show.php&id=91209