Photo By Master Sgt. Vin Stevens | Spc. Desmond Santos, motor transport operator and Staff Sgt. Rodolfo Jancan S-6...... read more read more
Subscribe
FORT BRAGG, N.C. - “Soldiers like to watch TV,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Vallade, 82nd Special Troops Battalion’s senior enlisted adviser and Taylor, Mich., native, as he showed me the battalion’s newest initiative- three wall-mounted information boards covering various topics.
These aren’t your average boards though. Catching the attention of soldiers and visitors, the three boards each contain a mounted television monitor with DVD tray. Each monitor continuously plays a disc containing current information about one of three basic topics important to commanders- safety, professional development and Comprehensive Soldier Fitness.
The videos can be downloaded from the Army’s safety website and Army YouTube channel.
The boards also contain placeholders for newsletters, magazines and other publications that contain information relating to the subject that the board addresses. Some of the publications include the NCO Journal and Fort Bragg ACS flyers.
The idea for the concept came from Lt. Col. Greg Wagnon, the battalion’s commander and Dallas, Texas native.
“When I took command, the [information] boards were your typical, boring cork boards with document protectors and stuff stuck in them,” Wagnon said. “They didn’t really jump out at ya,” he said.
Wagnon wanted to draw interest from his soldiers by presenting information boards that were more interactive. “People will watch a video more than read a memo hanging on a board,” said Wagnon.
“Once I see what’s on the TV, I start to look at what else is on the board,” said Spc. Desmond Santos, a motor transport operator and Sacramento, Calif., native. “The information, publications and forms are always being updated, so the board never gets old. It keeps soldiers informed,” Santos said.
“I think it’s a good return on investment,” Wagnon said. “Soldiers talk about it, point out the videos to each other, and it gets them thinking about that topic,” Wagnon continued.
“The brigade’s and the battalion’s mission is leader development,” said Wagnon. “That’s first and foremost, to grow future leaders,” he reiterated.
“These boards are effective in that they are successful in garnering interest from soldiers, such as myself, passing by,” said Spc. Kyle Laroche, a wheeled-vehicle mechanic, and Cocoa, Fla., native. “These boards are a lot better than what I’m used to seeing. They stand out, with our unit crests and colors … they are more interesting than traditional boards,” he said.
“The TVs were relatively cheap,” said Wagnon. “The boards were a little more expensive, but a unit could make something a little less expensive with just some plywood and a little creativity,” Wagnon said.
| Date Taken: | 05.23.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 05.23.2012 06:54 |
| Story ID: | 88854 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 66 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, I Like My M(edia)-TV, by MSG Vin Stevens, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
