JBLM gives FRG leaders social media lesson

Photo By Sgt. Cody Quinn | Catherine Caruso, the emerging and social media manager with the Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., Public Affairs Office, gives a class to Family Readiness Group leaders at the Family Readiness Center, JBLM, Oct. 28. The class informed FRG leaders about the best uses of social media and the steps needed to create an official Army social media page. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Cody Quinn, 28th Public Affairs Detachment/Released)  

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, UNITED STATES

10.28.2014

Story by Sgt. Cody Quinn 

28th Public Affairs Detachment

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - Family Readiness Group leaders braved fall rains Oct. 28 to learn how to use Facebook and similar social media to officially spread their Army-related messages at the Family Readiness Center, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

“Facebook is being used as a way to communicate information to our members, and we don’t have one. I was hesitant to start one,” said Sarah Memmo, the FRG leader of Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 137th Field Artillery, 3-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 7th Infantry Division, JBLM.

Memmo was unsure about what steps were needed to establish her FRG Facebook page and how much work would be involved.

“FRGs were founded in large part to make sure information was being communicated on a very personal level to individual military families,” said Catherine Caruso, emerging & social media manager, JBLM Public Affairs Office. “They’re an important conduit in that process. Because they’re volunteers, they may not be completely aware or well-educated in the Army policies that have come into play in the last couple of years.”

Unit and FRG social media pages operate as a means of informing interested parties of upcoming events and provide a venue for addressing organizational issues.

Having a two-way conversation between the organization and their audience is a critical part of social media, said Caruso. While having an online presence carries risks, like people “trolling” the page or unintentionally releasing sensitive information, the positives, with an active administrative presence, outweigh the negatives.

“It is a lot of work, but you can really get a lot of benefits from it,” said Memmo. “There’s proof that it works. It’s not just what people say: That it’s cliquey or negative.”

Those interested in setting up Army organization social media pages first need to receive approval from their unit commander. Next, they will need to contact their unit Public Affairs Office to receive social media training. Finally, social media managers are required to register their page at army.mil/socialmedia.

For family members and Soldiers looking to use social media to keep in touch with their other unit members, the process for setting up an official Army account can seem daunting.

“The Army has been really good about making sure people get training on some of the things that have historically raised questions, like fundraising activities and ethics, because they are acting not just as ambassador or members of their own family, but as representatives of the command and their unit. This is just one more piece of that puzzle,” said Caruso.

For further information, contact your unit or headquarters PAO, or visit the JBLM Facebook page.

• Date Taken: 10.28.2014
• Date Posted: 10.31.2014 15:39
• Story ID: 146714
• Location: JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US