RAF MILDENHALL, England -- Editor's note: This is part one of a three-part series on the responsible use of social media. Check back for part two, which will highlight recent negative situations of service members using social media. No federal endorsement is intended or implied.
Facebook...it's my constant connection with the outside world that has become an irresistible desire because it's so easy.
When I wake up in the morning, Facebook is one of the first things I look at, and it's one of the last things I check before bed. I even find myself clicking on my Facebook app when I get a free moment throughout the day. Why? Because technology has made it so easy to have "pen pals" and we are always able to instantly connect with anyone worldwide to give us immediate gratification.
In theory, being stationed overseas makes communicating with family and friends more difficult. However, with the advancement of technology and with Facebook and all the other social media outlets, the predicament of being hundreds of miles away and in another time zone is easier to overcome than even five years ago.
When people want help with something, it's not unusual for someone to say, "There's an app for that." It's true. Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter and LinkedIn can all be at my fingertips simply because I have a smartphone and it's easy to download an app.
For me, Facebook is a great and easy way to connect with any one long distance, and keep up with each other's lives. As any other Facebook user knows, it is easy to get caught up in everything else this media outlet offers. It can be entertaining to read statuses, look at photos and "like" pages. But things may get inappropriate and unprofessional very quickly.
Since being connected has become so easy, at times it's hard to remember to protect your personal information and to choose your words wisely. As a member of the U.S. Air Force, you represent something greater than yourself--not just while you are at work, but 24/7, 365 days a year. Remember, even though it's easy to get wrapped up in the silly things on Facebook, you always need to remain professional and conscious of your surroundings and audience.
As a service member, we don't always have the luxury of going off on tangents. We need to be good ambassadors, respectful of others and adhere to our military guidelines. As an Airman, I found out what my boundaries are for social media by reading AFI 1-1 2.15, "Use of Social Media." It clearly defines how to use social media responsibly. For more information on this instruction, go to http://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af/publication/afi1-1/afi1-1.pdf.
There are approximately 1 billion Facebook users around the world. This is an enormous amount of people who may have access to the information you put out. Remaining respectful of the Air Force and yourself is important to keeping your career intact.
There are three main things I keep in mind when dealing with social media:
1. Don't talk bad about your job. It's not smart to bash people you work with. It's hurtful and it causes people to not trust you for fear of seeing it posted on the internet somewhere. Would you want someone else posting something bad about you? Probably not. And, once it's out there, it's permanent - deleting something only removes it from your visibility. If you post something unprofessional or vulgar, someone in your chain of command could see it and there could be serious consequences that could affect your career.
2. Don't post inappropriate pictures. I'm pretty sure my parents would not appreciate it if I did something stupid and posted it for everyone to see. Likewise, I don't want anyone in my future to judge me based on poor choices I may have made when I was younger.
3. Never break operational security. Since joining the Air Force, I have learned the importance of OPSEC. Information can be pieced together by someone who is looking for it. If that happens, something bad could occur. I know I don't want to be the cause of someone being hurt or unsafe because I couldn't keep sensitive information out of the public eye. Posting information that is breaking OPSEC can potentially endanger lives and put the Air Force mission in jeopardy. For example, giving who, what, when and where information of a deployed spouse could end up being seen by the wrong eyes.
In today's world, technology can keep a person in touch with the outside world with little to no thought at all, but it can also get a person into a lot of trouble. Don't let Facebook jeopardize your career or someone else's life. Facebook is fun...let's keep it that way.