Social media now available to RAF Mildenhall network users

  • Published
  • By Staff Reports
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  As of May 10, many internet-based social media sites are now available to government network users here.

Those interested in RAF Mildenhall will not only be able to follow the base through its public Web site at www.mildenhall.af.mil, but also through Facebook (www.facebook.com/RAFMildenhall), Twitter (www.twitter.com/RAFMildenhall) and Flickr (www.flickr.com/RAFMildenhall).

The primary focus of the social networking sites will be on the base's involvement in and around the local community. If our Airmen go out and help clean up a cemetery or schoolyard, or if one of our units participates in a ceremony, photos from that event will be on one of the sites as well.

Social media will also be an additional resource for local media outlets to find information about RAF Mildenhall. In addition to the press releases generated by the office, information about the base's community relations events will be readily available on Flickr, Facebook and Twitter.

According to DoD officials, Internet-based social-networking services have become integral tools for all manner of operations across the military services and in collaboration with other federal agencies and the public.

Air Force Space Command Headquarters is the Air Force-designated approval authority for the AFNET. In this capacity, AFSPC officials are responsible for the policies, procedures and the implementation plan for Internet-based capabilities on the AFNET.

The Air Force implementation plan will allow access while still ensuring a tight and secure network to defend against malicious activity to safeguard the missions that depend on cyberspace.

Now that these tools are available, all Air Force personnel and their families can get the most up-to-date Air Force information from Web sites on the Air Force's official social media directory.

Additionally, to continue safeguarding the AFNET as well as the privacy of all Air Force people, there are many online training tools to help educate everyone on appropriate online activity. Those sites include:

-- National Operations Security Program -- OPSEC and Social Networking Sites Safety Check list

-- DoD's Social Media Hub

-- U.S. Strategic Command's Social Network Training site

For appropriate use of the Internet and social media see the Air Force and DOD guidance below:

-- AFI 35-113, Internal Information, Chapter 15: Social Media

-- Air Force Instruction 33-129 Section 2, Use of Internet Resources by Government Employees

-- AFI 35-107, Public Web Communications

-- Joint Ethics Regulation 2-301-Use of Federal Government Resources

Editor's note: Some information for this article was compiled from the March 31 story "Social media sites soon will be open on the Air Force Network" by Capt. Christina R. Hoggatt, Air Force Space Command Public Affairs)