ICYMI: JB MDL cites gr8 place 2 find event deets Published Dec. 7, 2010 By 2nd Lt. Carolyn Glover Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- The average Facebook user is connected to 80 community pages, groups and events. Of these user, more than 1,000 are connected to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. Are You one of them? JB MDL's online community and public website traffic has grown exponentially since the base launched its social media program just four months ago. Numbers will inevitably increase as more members of the joint base community begin to realize the benefits of a cyber social network. "One of the biggest problems brought to my attention is how difficult it is for servicemembers and their families operating on different networks to access the same information," said Angel Lopez, JB MDL public affairs chief. "Social media, hand-in-hand with our public website, alleviates this problem by joining our community members outside the DoD [Department of Defense] firewall. " The joint base public affairs office is the lead agency responsible for posting and managing the base social media web pages, resulting in almost a quarter million impressions in cyberspace since the program's inception in late July. "We post frequent updates on upcoming events, noteworthy news stories and reminders. However, our interests are those of the community," explained Lopez. "Our joint base family can use Facebook to tell us what kind of information appeals to them and share thoughts about what we post. Consider the site a direct line to our office and joint base leadership." Fans of JB MDL's Facebook page can expect to see requests for anything from recipes and Christmas photos to opinions on base events and activities. The Air, Land & Sea Times staff might even make requests for certain posts to be used in the base newspaper. "Pulling from Facebook is a great way for us to put the community voice in our newspaper," said Airman 1st Class Bryan Swink, ALS Times editor. "It's much easier for people's personalities to show through online posts than when they have to track down staff e-mail addresses and submit request forms." JB MDL's successes on a social media platform do not lie solely with Facebook. The public affairs office also runs a Flickr page, where staff photographers post albums from community events they cover both on and off base. Flickr provides instant access to an abundance of high-resolution photos that would not otherwise be available due to space limitations on the public website and in the base paper. JB MDL's social media initiatives link directly to the constantly-evolving official public website. A recently-added feature of the website is the base calendar, located on the right column of the homepage. This interactive calendar is updated several times a day with details about base events and activities. Users can search the calendar by date and event type. "I strongly encourage JB MDL servicemembers, civilians and families to look to this calendar for the most accurate details regarding approved JB MDL events. Our staff works hard to assure the timeliest information is posted on a daily basis," said Col. Joe Poth, JB MDL deputy commander. The calendar is only as comprehensive as the information provided to the public affairs team. "If you are planning an event here on base, let the PA office know so they can help get the word out," Poth explained. "As the joint base continues to develop, it is absolutely essential all of us are on the same page. This calendar, and the social media program as a whole, assists us in making significant steps in that direction." For more information on JB MDL events and the social media program, look for public affairs' latest product, the Air, Land &Sea e-Times, published via e-mail every Monday. To be added to the distribution list for this online publication, e-mail 87ABW/PA@mcguire.af.mil. Editors note -- The acronyms used are common social media terminology, (i.e. ICYMI = in case you missed it: gr8 = great; deets = details)