Manas Air Base reaches out to 'Twitter' users worldwide

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Phyllis Hanson
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan --  Keeping up with online technology and its growing user demands can be daunting for communicators. But the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs Office has hopped aboard the Twitter 'twain' at full throttle in order to keep the world abroad in the know about the base's goings on.

"I believe it is in our best interest to get on board. Twitter, as well as some of the other social networking sites, is a great way to tell people about our mission and people," said Maj. Rickardo Bodden, 376th AEW public affairs officer.

The 376th AEW can be found at www.twitter.com/manasab. Twitter is one of the many free social network service jet streams, which enables users to disperse quick, 140-word or less, messages that are texted to "followers" or those who choose to receive information from a source variety in the millions.

"Social media is not going away. Over a few short years we have seen these types of communication mediums reach high levels of popularity and use," said Major Bodden.

"Our new media means of communication will reach new audiences and keep people informed who we otherwise might not have been able to reach," he said.

There are millions of text messengers in the world now. Manas AB is one of the many hatchlings from the Air Force's media arena, forging this mega mass communication method. Air Force bases and its agencies worldwide are flocking together in the constant pursuit to tell the Air Force story to audiences now, no longer beyond their reach.

Through personalized tickertape, Manas will be able to announce its latest news stories, videos and photo packages posted on the Web site www.manas.afcent.af.mil. The communications medium will also allow PA to promote, in short form, news releases on upcoming events or ones that just happened. Each story, photo and video that the PA team posts on the Web can be shared via e-mail, Twitter as well as other social media sites soon to be ventured into.

"With any networking or social media site, my goal is to put the Airmen in public view. Many people don't know what our Airmen do for the nation and how we are assisting local communities with numerous humanitarian outreach programs," said Major Bodden. "Just not enough people know about the great things Airmen are doing."

Although Manas AB's Twitter site, www.twitter.com/manasab, and other Web 2.0 entities can't be accessed from government computers here, people at Manas are able to get to many of these means via Wi-Fi.

"Thanks to our great communications squadron, we have morale spots on base where these communication services are available 24-hours a day for our Airmen to get news, connect with friends and family and a host of other things," said Major Bodden.

"Everyone can benefit when they have information or at least have access to it. I think it is better to know then not know," he said.

"I hope to reach families, reporters, businesses, city leaders and especially our own Airmen here who may not have the complete overall picture of what is going on at Manas," said Major Bodden.

"I like to utilize it in line with one of our well-known leadership mottos, 'Mission first, Airman always," he said.