Send a video message to troops; Airman on WH blog; tips for DOD family members

Folks interested in expressing their thanks or Happy Holiday wishes to Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen (yes, they’re here t00), can film the thank you and upload it here.

Thanks to Air Force Sgt. Gallahan who wrote about folks serving in Afghanistan on the White House blog. 

Also, check out some deployed servicemember tips for social media here.  Good common sense information for servicemembers.

And there’s even an area friends and family members should take a look at to consider knowing exactly what you’re posting on how it could affect the mission.  Some may balk at this, especially outsiders to a DOD family, that’s ok, the don’t quite understand the same level of security and necessity to the protection of information that many spouses do.

Air War: Logistics of the Afghan war

Afghanistan is about airpower (one word) as much as it is about the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, nation-building and ground troops.  The American way of warfare relies heavily on a massive logistic support provided now, not three weeks from now and that can only come from the air.  Good logistics in this region goes back to Alexander the Great and the Macedonian army who found it difficult to manage their war of tens of thousands.  He could move miles and miles a day with great logistics support and little reserves. 

As the Air Force finds and develops the air bridge narrative and the cargo delivery narrative more, this will surely tell the Air Force’s efforts more to the world.

Bagram is home to a not-so publicized war that isn’t a whole lot about bombs and bullets but one of a small and elite group of Air Force Reservists conducting a logistics War.  This modern form of warfare is nothing new to America, but is surely new to Afghanistan.  Young men speaking Dari and Pashtun must have had to catch their breath as the saw the hulking C-5 slowly take flight above the Parwan bowl for the first time.  The people here may remember the Antonov 124s, once working for their Soviet invaders some 30 years ago, now they’re returning as contracted air support for ISAF.    

But, as Bagram is busting at the seems, now the news stories will start to focus on the 30,000 surge recently announced.  Two recent reporters covered some of these events and one, from McClatchy newspapers is still in country.  A recent story from her on the blog Nukes and Spooks shows some of the world we live day-to-day here.  She mentions our first sewer system.  Yes.  That has been a big deal here.  Imagine the day, flush…..  Her next missions: JTACs.  She’s on the ground and on patrols with Airmen who call the in the rain. 

The other reporter, from Politics Daily, wrote about the fighting spirit of Airmen and how we’re meeting the requirments of the Surge.  He’d recently covered a story about General Conway from the Marines on how his Marines would gladly and “happily” come to Afghanistan without infrastructure and live in holes.  Well, I don’t think the Air Force is at that point, but this isn’t your dad’s Air Force.  Tent cities, an Afghan bitter cold and a shower that if is lukewarm is a good day.  So, not the Air Force of the 1990s,but one that’s adaptive and reflexive in the Airmen on the ground.  Operators and Maintainers alike, living closer to their mission should they be needed.

Think twice when shipping to the troops overseas

Ordering directly online? Consider this.  Items shipped to APOs (military overseas addresses) are shipped to a collection point in the States, typically New York City, then usually arrive to the places like Bagram Airfield via large U.S. Air Force cargo jets where they are processed and sent to a cargo yard, then put on smaller C-130 and other aircraft to the remote regions of Afghanistan.  Makes sense, right?  You’re not going to get a FedEx jet, or a Postal Service truck delivering to the a mountain top on the Afghan-Pakistan border.

So why are companies charging more to ship to troops overseas?  Check out this Stripes story about Wal-Mart.  Now I love Wal-Mart, but come on.

A few photos from Afghanistan

Do you think these two women had any idea what in the hell they were looking at?

Airmen assigned to the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron take a break from their duties here, Oct 20, 2009.

Well, I guess that’s one way you can plug the hole in an old Soviet Barracks.

Hmm, why is the rain coming in? Well, there’s your problem, you have no roof.

I’m sure that had to hurt

Ouch. I bet this had to hurt.

What’s news? Is it the medium or message…no, it’s reflective belts?

Glow, disco, reflective, safety, sexy!….the belts that prove communication is changing.  People are inhabiting different spaces more frequently now and those spaces are where they go for news.  And, that’s why good reporters are going there as well. 

Maybe it was the belt. Many complain about the belts here, but you have a higher likelihood of being hit by an MRAP than a Mortar.

A study by PR Powerhouse Edelman, found that nearly three-quarters of reporters mine blogs doing research on what’s hot and what’s not before they write stories.  And the largest space to data-mine is surely Facebook with their hundreds of millions of users (I too am to blame).  But the question arises, when is news not really news?

We’ve had features and news-features in mainstream media before that were never hard news, but what makes news, is it the story or the medium?  Apparently today, the medium is much more influential than the story. 

Take Dangerroom.  Dangerroom is a blog compiled of many gifted writers, some very large names.  This national-security-focused online spin-off from Wired’s magazine writes original content and then also compiles information from many sources and often re-purposes them, but with a new slant.  They understand their target-market and make headlines thus keeping their readers interested and advertisers paying.

The data-mining news organization, Danger Room, has a brilliant model:

many people (Facebook) + funny/in-depth/conflict = pay dirt

They go where people are and find the story that interests them and their target audience – for example: ”Airmen bomb silly safety belt rule.” 

The Danegrroom story was right there in the open, created from a Facebook fan page  of more than 5,000 people that don’t care for the belts and decided to air that online.  The fan page now has more than 17,000 followers and has even got senior military leadership issuing statements to reporters and has created a buzz in military forums.

What’s more interesting, is that as seen in the past, the online world is becoming the equivalent to a wire service, albeit not nearly as big as AP or Reuters.  This wire feeds more traditional news houses who are grappling with how to continue producing product and making money, like Gannett’s own Air Force Times which ran the same story on their blog.   So millions online, and tens of thousands in print, will see the piece.

No one argues with the fact that the belts are useful and needed, it’s just that online media has now created a new way to socially and internationally share personal thoughts and beliefs about a subject and to a military, that can be beneficial and dangerous.

It’s only fitting that Wired’s “Patron Saint,” Marshall McLuhan, and his model of communication is actually paying out for Dangerroom and similar blogs.  It appears that the Wired-McLuhan-Model is actually working.  So why is it that a seemingly nothing story on a Facebook’s page on disco belts can create such a fever, but a real news story can have no traction at all?

Coordination….a bit difficult in Afghanistan

So as if the process of coordination couldn’t get any more difficult in Afghanistan, one of the most difficult phone calls of my career came to a close with a win for one lucky Airman with a call placed to her at a remote outpost in Eastern Afghanistan.  Airman Jackson was selected by a military process and competed against many other Airmen to be one of two to take the call from the Big Boss. 

She was selected as one of the Airmen for her efforts in early October where, without a doubt, she saved the lives of many in her Convoy when an Improvised Explosive Device went off.

“While driving on a dirt road, we were slowing down to drive over a concrete patch when the IED went off,” Airman Jackson said. “I remember getting jerked around in the vehicle, and the rear of the MRAP where I was seated filled with dust,” said the native of Lakeville, Minn.

Airman Jackson conducts an interview with French PAs.

This is one Airman who deserved the recognition. 

While on the call she asked the Boss if she could place him on speaker.  Classic.  She shared her call with her fellow Airmen!  Nice touch.  Watch the video of the call here.

 ”I am so proud of all of you for the extraordinary service you are rendering the country,” the Boss was heard saying over the speakerphone.  ”So, on Thanksgiving day, we give thanks for you.”

Pictures: two weeks in Afghanistan

A young Afghan boy accepts a Transformers bookbag filled with school supplies from America.

It's not Valentine's Day in Afghanistan, but this decked out motorcycle, taxicab three wheeling vehicle of love aims to please. Notice the hearts.

Afghan children play soccer in Bagram village.

The desolate Afghan countryside from an HH-60 on a resuce and recovery mission for a missing civilian helicopter.

Air Force Artists travel around the world capturing images of the military for historical preservation. All materials and work is donated to the Air Force from the artists for free. This is an example of a work in progress.

A cook working at the District Center in Qara Bagh, Afghanistan cuts meat hanging from the open window while dogs wait for discarded pieces. Photo by Sgt. Sarah Webb.

At a local Bazaar, an Afghan salesman charges $40 US for a unique clock. Show him the greenbacks, and a little negotiating, the proce drops to $8 a piece.

SEC Championship from Afghanistan — thanks Florida

As much as I hate to say this, The University of Florida is on it — PR wise that is.  Just days before the SEC Championship, Coach Meyer emailed some comments here to the men and women of the armed forces.  Comments were requested from the greats, Saban, Meyer, Miles, Richt, etc…. but Meyer and UF were the only ones to follow through (so far; fingers crossed, come on Saban….)

“I often use the military as an example with our football team and student-athletes,” said University of Florida Head Coach Urban Meyer. “They are an example and should be an example for all because of their unselfish dedication to operate as a unit and a team. They have an unwavering commitment to their values and respect the goals and objectives of the unit. I am forever grateful for what they do to protect our freedom and our country.”

So, in classic fashion I decided to email this to a few of my Bama fans here and got the following 4-word e-mail reply from an F-15E Strike Eagle pilot with two photo attachments:

“E-mail this to Meyer.”

 Ok.  Yep.  That’s pretty cool. Roll Tide Roll — in the back of an F-15E over Afghanistan.  Turns out my freind has been flying his Alabama flag on every combat mission he’s been on — that’s more than 500 hours in the jet!

 

Rally the troops! Patton’s Air Force

It was a Patton moment, sort of.  Dozens and dozens of Airmen gathered to hear an impromptu gathering called by the Commanding General of Combined Joint Task Force -82 — our warfighting headquarters.  No one was sure of the meeting and no one was sure on the subject.

The two-star commander, dual-hatted of the famed-82nd Airborne as well, discussed the war, from a ground to air perspective.  On the steps of the Soviet control tower, constructed in 1976, the words of Major General Curtis Scapparrotti echoed down the cold, rain-drenched, roads as Airmen listened intently to every word. 

“They’re on the run; and airpower is there,” he said referring to the enemy.  He went on stating that some might consider that today’s ground forces could be operating “arrogantly” due to the distance they travel away from their remote fighting bases.  But, close air support from the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing is there, he said.   “I am here to thank you and to let you know America thanks you.” 

Following the Commanding General, was his Command Sergeant Major; he’s a crusty NCO and not afraid to tell you like it is, which most of I’ll leave out of this post.

“Thank you for surrounding me with such great patriots.  I’d gladly spend more days here than at home to ensure the terrorists we’re after do not step foot back in America.  We’re here for New York City, Washington, DC and the fields of Pennsylvania.  We’re here to make sure we make them pay for what they’ve done and to ensure they think twice before they come back…”    He continued.  “Eight years, that’s how long it’s been since we’ve had an attack at home.  Thank you.”

I wonder what General Patton would have said?