It seems as if almost everyone is enjoying the perks of social media, but maybe everyone doesn’t enjoy them as much as the members of those serving in the military.
A recent study by Blue Star Families found that social media plays a vital role in keeping family members connected with their loved ones who are serving. In fact, 90% of people are using social media to communicate and 77% said it was an important way to communicate with one another. The report also shows that military members enjoy social media because it provides them access to information.
Facebook came out on top as the most popular social network, with 86% of those surveyed saying they used Facebook every day. The use of Skype has also increased significantly while the use of email has dropped. Next in line to Facebook were military exclusive social media sites Military OneSource and Military.com.
Military OneSource
Military OneSource is a website that provides information to active duty military members and their families. It is a program designed by the US Department of Defense and is free for military members and their family to use.
The 24-hour call center is the central hub of information. Everything from finding certain services in the local area to teaching children how to deal with the deployment of a parent can all be accessed through the center.
The program also offers special consultations or face-to-face consultations for families in need of specialized advice or information. Spouses of military members can use the MyCAA program to receive financial assistance if they’re attaining their degree. And there is also social media, which allows military members to connect with their families in a safe and social environment.
Military.com
Military.com is a website that is used as a private portal for all military members. This website contains a great deal of information for members of the military as well as their families. Everything from recent news that affects the military to watching videos can be accessed on the site.
Anyone interested in joining the military can learn how to do so through the site as well, and veterans can use the site to find employment.
The community section allows military members and their families to stay in touch with one another. It works just like a social network, only this is limited to military members and not the entire public. The site currently has over 10 million members, but the easy-to-use Buddy Finder feature allows members to locate exactly who they’re looking for, and many are using the site to stay in touch with family while on active duty or have conversations with old military friends.
Social media hasn’t been around for very long, yet it has changed the way that everyone communicates. Military members no longer have to wait for handwritten letters or emails to come and go. Now, they can use sites like Facebook, Military OneSource and Military.com to connect with their family in real time, making their deployments feel less isolated than years before.
Garrett Payne is interested in the military and likes to write about technology and robotics in the military.
About the Author
