PS Magazine visits post, promotes new app

Photo By Kimberly Hackbarth | Chief Warrant Officer 2 James Thomas, a battery maintenance technician with 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, describes maintenance issues of the Patriot air and missile defense system to Glen Adams, a writer with PS Magazine March 31, on Fort Hood, Texas.  

FORT HOOD, TX, UNITED STATES

03.31.2016

Story by Staff Sgt. Kimberly Hackbarth 

69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade

Topics for the comics range from weapons systems to vehicles to basic Soldier care.

Writers from the magazine met with warrant officers of 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, March 31, here to collect ideas for future comics about proper maintenance for the Patriot air and missile defense system and to promote the magazine’s new smartphone application.

Though the monthly preventative maintenance publication is accessible through web browsers and paper subscription, the staff of the magazine chose to update their platform and create an application for mobile devices.

Glen Adams, a writer with the magazine, visited several units on post to gain an insight into maintenance issues and to also remind Soldiers that the same information found in the paper copy of the magazine is now available on their smartphones and tablets.

“Soldiers today love to use their smartphones, so it seems like a great solution to us,” he said.

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Marc Nelson, an air and missile defense tactician and technician with 69th ADA Bde., said he was a private when he first noticed the publication and that he lauds the magazine’s plan to appeal to a newer generation.

“I think launching an app is a testament of this resource keeping up with technology and today’s Soldiers,” he said.

Soldiers can currently access the app, however, it does not include all the future features and content, Adams said.

The app will feature videos to better explain maintenance procedures and also give information about new equipment as well as a resources link. Soldiers will also be able to access past issues of the magazine.

Though the app is currently available for download, it is slated to be “fully functional” in June, Adams said.

Adams met with Nelson and several other warrant officers from 69th ADA Bde. to discuss maintenance issues that could be turned into comics for future issues.

“The reason we come to the field and talk to the guys that actually use the equipment is because they have the best information for the best ways to do things,” Adams said.

Adams said he specifically sought warrant officers because they have “a world of information” about the Patriot system that can be shared with newer Soldiers.

“When (a Soldier new to Patriot) reads these articles, all of a sudden he’s picked up on things it’s taken these guys years of work to realize,” Adams explained.

Nelson, who has been working with Patriot systems for the last 19 years, said it was an “honor” to have the magazine seek the voice of Soldiers of the brigade, especially since any information gathered from the ADA Soldiers would appear in the magazine after the app goes live in June.

“It is significant that they highlight the Patriot system because we are a small community with a huge impact on the Army’s mission,” Nelson said.

• Date Taken: 03.31.2016
• Date Posted: 04.29.2016 15:46
• Story ID: 196933
• Location: FORT HOOD, TX, US