Today’s blog post comes from the newest member of our “Social Media Team,” Master Sergeant Alberto Betancourt. MSG B (as we call him), has been an important and exciting addition to the development of our social networking sites because of the first-hand Soldier’s perspective he provides. Check out his entry below to learn about MSG B’s transition to social media.
Most Soldiers consider me an “old-school” NCO. Besides the fact that I’m already over 50, my adapting to “change” is slower and I resist it tremendously. It’s not the fear of change that makes me resist. It’s the inability to catch on as quickly as my young Soldiers do.
Henceforth, the Social Media “craze” within Public Affairs. I did not see any reason why we needed to go there. As the former CMF 46 Branch Manager, I received numerous emails from Public Affairs Enlisted Soldiers inviting me to places like Facebook, Twitter and other sites.
Each time I cringed and reluctantly said “no.” One day I finally gave in and opened a Facebook account. Within hours I was getting emails requesting my friendship. I had no idea what that meant but I agreed. As the day crept on I continued getting friendship requests and at one point became sort of accepting of this new horizon I had encountered-that is until the following day. The next morning I went to Facebook and there was posting from a female tagged: “here’s a rum and coke in memory of the wonderful times we spent together!” WHAT!! I panicked, looked for the red ABORT button to cancel and within seconds, my Facebook experience ended.
Luck would have it that I’m now currently working with the Office of Chief of Public Affairs’ On-line Social Media Division. They’re the team responsible to advise the Army’s Public Affairs Chief on things like FACEBOOK. So, now I’m smack back in the middle of what I’ve been avoiding and actually loving it! I’ve learned that Facebook, as well as other Social Media outlets like Twitter and You Tube accelerate our ability to communicate. I can actually help reach thousands of young people through these sites. So, this “old-school” NCO changed. It took a while but I did and I know you can too.
MSG Alberto Betancourt, Online and Social Media Division
As niece of MSG B, I can truly say that for this being his first blog he picked the perfect subject to discuss. When I first opened my facebook, I did not know how it worked and well wasn’t sure who I would find on there, till this day after almost 2 years of having facebook I have basically all of my church friends, family that I lost contact with and well friends from school. I enjoy being on my social site because now I know how to keep in touch with friends and family and share with them my life experiences through pictures and statuses. Uncle MSG B….you rocked you! I ask for your daily blessings and may this blog be the first of many more awesome blogs to come! I love you!
The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the blog post From the Front: 12/30/2009 News and Personal dispatches from the front and the home front.
Welcome to the team, MSG B. I’ll be linking to this.
A Soldier’s Perspective has linked to this post in the blog post Army Welcomes New Blogger.
Welcome to the club MSG! I had to learn how to run the computer while my son was deployed in 2003. My first computer actually burned up from my inexperience. Good luck with the new job, the internet is critical now
A proud parent of a SOLDIER
Rick554
Good job, It is great that people who have not been raised with this technology are beginning to use it and understand it better.
@Rick554
Sir, thank you for the support you give our great Army as a parent. Got a chuckle out of your “computer” incident–hopefully no one was hurt. I appreciate the welcome and I hope my NCO words spread through this new medium I’ve encountered can help or guide some and at a minimum make them chuckle!
HOOAH!
MSG B
@Curt N,
Thank you…it’s challenging but I never believed that old cliche that “you can’t teach old dogs new tricks.” I’m learning everyday!
HOOAH
MSG B
I can totally relate to you! I didn’t even have a computer till My husband deployed, but now I do and have learned to pull up sites and have even found pictures of him in the army’s photo album’s. It took a while but it grows on you!