Warren joins the social media age

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Mike Tryon
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
F. E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo. --  Recently, the public affairs office launched the official F. E. Warren Air Force Base Facebook page bringing the base into the social media age.

As with anything in the military, there are rules associated with the page in regards to posting comments, articles and any other submissions to the PA office.

According to the social media local guidance policy letter, signed by Col. Greg Tims, 90th Missile Wing commander, on Aug. 12, paragraph four "No individual, squadron, agency or base organization may post graphic, obscene, explicit, vulgar, profane, threatening, hateful, racially offensive or ethnically offensive comments, photos or submissions. Further, the site will not allow comments that are defamatory, libelous or illegal."

Simply put, that means people must take it upon themselves to ensure anything submitted for the page be in good taste. Military bearing and professionalism never end, and that applies to social media sites as well.

Facebook, and other social media sites like it, are viewable to the public - military and civilian alike. That means anybody can look at any page they want, depending on the privacy settings of said pages. While it's OK to have an opinion, it does not mean it needs to be shared. Or, if one really wants that opinion shared, there is a way to do it respectfully to where it won't come off offensive, crude or disrespectfully.

If visiting any other official military Facebook page, the same rules apply. Back in July, there were a string of comments from an article posted on the official U.S. Air Force page that caused a lot of people to get upset and those comments potentially brought discredit to what the military stands for.

The backlash from one person's comment could have all been avoided if that individual took a few more seconds to think if what he was posting showed respect for the worth and dignity of every Airman.

Colonel Tims also states in paragraph five of his policy letter, "Those who choose to participate in social media practices participate at your own risk, taking personal responsibility for your comments, your user-name and any information provided." Basically, that means anything posted falls back on the individual posting.

If there are questions or concerns about social media practices, contact the PA office at 773-3381 for further guidance.