Army reaches out with new Web site

ARNEWS ^ | Nov 10, 2005 | Col. Randy Pullen

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Nov. 10, 2005) – Just in time for Veterans Day, the Army launched a new Army Outreach Web site this week designed to help it better connect with the public -– and vice versa.

The new Web site (www.army.mil/outreach) is the latest tool to help achieve Army Outreach’s overall goals of building and sustaining relationships of trust between Soldiers and Americans, said Col. Garrie Dornan, director of the Army Outreach Division, a part of Public Affairs. He said the site conncets Soldiers with the American public to continue telling the Soldier story.

“The American public understands we are a nation at war,” Dornan said, “and that the linchpin to our success is the American Soldier. By placing emphasis on each Soldier’s individual story, citizens across the country have embraced the American Soldier in a show of support not matched since World War II.”

Serves as two-way tool

The Army Outreach Web site not only serves as a valuable tool for Army public affairs officers as they plan and carry out activities with the American public, but it also gives the public an easy way to learn about the gamut of Army activities taking place, Dornan said, enabling them to learn more about their Army and how to support their Soldiers by attending and participating in these events.

The site also provides the entire Army family -- Soldiers, leaders, civilians and family members -- with a view of the enormous amount of community relations and outreach initiatives taking place Army-wide, including activities they may wish to include in their own schedules.

Calendar shows nationwide events

One of the main features of the Outreach Web site is its comprehensive, searchable and interactive calendar of outreach events.

By clicking on Nov. 11, for example, one can see a listing of 110 Veterans Day events. A further click on any individual event, such as “Nation’s Parade” (New York City’s annual Veterans Day Parade) or “The U.S. Army Field Band and Soldiers Chorus Tour (Boca Raton, Fl),” gives the reader a description of the event, its time, location, sponsor and contact phone numbers to obtain additional information.

There’s a search feature to seek out specific events, such as aerial shows, Golden Knights jumps, speaking engagements, parades and many other activities. The search can be refined by month, by state and by participating agency.

These features give PAOs an excellent method to explain to their commanders how well and how much the Army story is being told, Dornan said as he discussed how important it is for field PAOs to provide information on their events to populate the calendar. By being able to show the value of outreach efforts to commanders, support for increased and enhanced activities can be obtained, which enables more of the story to be told to more people.

If that weren’t reason enough to encourage PAOs to use the new Web site, Dornan offered one more. Army Outreach Division regularly highlights specific events to the Army leadership, so he said a great way to get some high-level recognition for an outreach event taking place at Fort Lewis, Wash., or at an Army Reserve Center in Indiana or an Army National Guard Armory in South Carolina is by posting it on the Army Outreach calendar.

Other features on the Outreach Web site include:

• access to installation Web sites that have links posted on the calendar;

• a list of organizations and links to them that will enable Soldier supporters to send messages, packages and other mementos of support to troops;

• an explanation of the Army Outreach program and samples of Outreach activities such as the Army Birthday Celebration, Operation Tribute to Freedom, speakers bureaus, the Joint-Service Open House, and U.S. Army Bands;

• a photo gallery with images that can be used to promote local events;

• how to request Army assets;

• frequently asked questions;

• downloads and resources (posters, desktop wallpapers, screensavers); and

• a directory of Army Outreach professionals ready to respond to customer needs.

The site also has a news archive with links to the Army News Service Web site and the Operation Tribute to Freedom site.

Speakers page takes requests

Another valuable feature for those wanting to tell the Army story and for those who want to hear that story is the “Engaging America through Army Speakers” page which provides a means for visitors to request speakers, for Soldiers to become speakers and for speakers to become better speakers. For those who may need a little help getting started, there are online speeches that a speaker can use in totality or as a starting point for his or her own remarks.

If ever there was a Website that may have something for everybody, Dornan said the new Army Outreach Web site may be just that. From planning a fun event to attend with the family or an educational event for the school, from showcasing the skills and accomplishments of a command and its Soldiers to interacting with the men and women fresh back from the war or on their way to defend freedom around the globe, one can get there with Army Outreach.

[SandRat]

photos at source

[SandRat]

Army Reaches out to everyone warriors, spouses, children.

[bnelson44]

Well, let's see, I found this on the site:

Army beats Air Force, 27-24

OK, site has my blessing :)

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[blackie]

Great site ~ Thanks ~ Bump!