Check before you post

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Jessica Clark
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  According to the Air Force Social Media Guide, "Social media and social networking have evolved to become the primary communication methods used by today's Airmen, families and leaders."

The Air Force views social media sites as positive tools, as long as they are used appropriately.

"By the nature of your profession, you are always on the record and must represent our core values," it states. "You are personally responsible for what you say and post on social networking services. Consider how a post can be interpreted by the public."

This too, serves for families.

"The Air Force stories you share on social media help maintain the morale of Airmen and educate the public about the Air Force," the guide explains. "However, posting too much information could jeopardize the security of Airmen and missions. If you wouldn't want to see the information on the news, do not post it on the Web."

If used in a negative way, social media threats and harassments can be considered cyber-bullying or cyber-stalking.

"Either of these situations are unacceptable conduct," said Col. Jeanne Meyer 60th Air Mobility Wing judge advocate. "Bullying or harassing on-line or in person is equally hurtful and destructive and can escalate quickly into actual misconduct and inappropriate behavior."

If cyber-bullying or cyber-stalking occur on base, the installation commander has the authority to take action in order to maintain good order and discipline of the Air Force.

"For families living in base housing, the military member is responsible to ensure his or her family members act in accordance with accepted standards and not adverse to military discipline," Meyer said. "If threats on social media escalate to criminal misconduct or significantly impact good order and discipline on the base, the installation commander may consider removal of the family from base housing or barring the family member from base."

It is important to remember that Airmen and their families are always representing the Air Force.

"Interacting on social media is no different than interacting in person, while you may feel anonymous sitting at a computer, you aren't, and can be held accountable for threatening and harassing other people," she said. "Harassing another member of the Travis family damages the trust and faith we have in each other to support us and our families in carrying out the Travis mission."