Blogging General Reaches Out to Troops, Blows Off Security Fears

[daftandbarmy]

Blogging General Reaches Out to Troops, Blows Off Security Fears

"There are some concerns by some people, based on the nature of our hierarchical organization, who feel this is inappropriate — going around the chain of command,"  Major General Michael Oates, the commander of the Army’s Task Force Mountain, tells Danger Room. "It is not in fact going around the chain of command; it allows us to connect to the chain of command in ways we have not been able to experience before."

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/01/tf-mountains-so/

 

[Kringle]

Understanding in the chain of command can be a good idea for the military environment. Having social media in the military environment it can be shown an online leadership.

 

[brihard]

Right on. As long as expectations are managed this seems like a development in sound leadership. Ours is a generation more accustomed to - and expecting of - ready access to information. I expect this approach will pay dividends.

 

[HollywoodHitman]

At least the guy is giving something new a try. I'm sure he has his bases covered. It'd be interesting to see how well it goes over the long term. It seems like it could be a project that eats up alot of time.

 

[SeanNewman]

I can't see this being any different than cases where a senior officer comes by for a visit and asks the old "So how is everyone doing, anything I can do to help?" question.

We've all been asked that question and not answered.  Some of us maybe have done so a couple times out of the hundreds of times asked, but nobody wants to be that one guy to speak up about something that may make the 10 bosses over him look bad.

It's different when Hillier asked a question in 2006 and got an answer like "We need a Tim's in KAF", because that obviously is outside the CoC and nobody will look bad.

But what happens if I come on there as Captain Schmucky and say "The way we do things at this unit is _____ed and here are my recommendations to change it..." it's going to be no different online than at a parade.

Not at all knocking his innovation; that part is to be commended.  I would just be surprised if it bears fruit (particularly if names are tied to signature blocks).