Public Affairs ensures base, community can "tune in" to Edwards

  • Published
  • By 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Dozens of events take place every day in a community the size of Edwards AFB. From official functions to recreational escapes and sales at the Exchange, news and information flow like a river through the base in an effort to keep people informed.

Taking in the information all at once is like drinking from that river, where one can be washed away in what they've come seeking. For that reason commanders employ communications experts to channel the flow so information can be used most effectively.

The base organization that holds primary responsibility to stream that information into digestible portions is the 95 ABW Public Affairs office. Public Affairs' mission is to provide accurate and timely data the community can use to "tune in" to happenings on base.

"With the amount of information moving today tuning into a community our size can be like drinking from a fire hose, which is usually ineffective and always painful," said Mike Strickler, Edwards Public Affairs director. "Providing it in multiple channels has the effect of dividing that powerful torrent into manageable streams that are redundant yet diverse in order to meet the tastes of every reader."

As the core communications outlet of the commander PA uses multiple "channels" to move information to the base and local communities.

"Channeling information is key on a base the size of Edwards because we have so much more going on here than at most Air Force bases," said Strickler. "For that reason the PA organization is specifically designed to move data quickly through multiple avenues in order to reach the largest number of people, in the shortest amount of time, in ways most meaningful to them."

The information process begins with commanders, civilian directors and enlisted leaders who reach out daily to a community of more than 10,000. Much of the information they provide comes to PA in myriad forms where it is collected, formatted for transmission and released with maximum disclosure and minimum delay.

"Just like in elementary school we use our ABCs when formatting the data to ensure it moves quickly and effectively," said Strickler. "Our watchwords are accuracy, brevity and clarity, and we use them to deliver data that our audiences can trust, digest and understand in the shortest amount of time possible."

Once formatted, the broadcasting begins in up to 10 different channels.

"The first and easiest way to move data is through social media, and here we use Facebook and Twitter to provide textual and visual information to anyone who tunes in," said Dawn Waldman, chief of PA's broadcast and social media division. "We often post photos and videos of happenings as well, and anyone with a social media account can find out what's happening post to post, practically as it happens."

"In fact, by applying the correct settings, customers can receive a text message on their smart phones or tablets every time something is posted to Edwards Facebook or Twitter pages," she said.

Waldman and her team also produce and post video to three YouTube accounts and the Edwards command access channel, called Channel 6, which is available on the Time Warner Cable system. The broadcast and social media division also uses the base telephone hold system to provide up-to-date news and information from Edwards, AFMC and the Defense Media Agency or DMA, as well as the commander's Straight Talk line at 661-277-2345.

From PA's Internal Information division comes the weekly edition of the Desert Wings, Edwards' official newspaper, and the Edwards AFB Web page. According to division chief Gary Hatch, the paper is the base's traditional forum for providing information in a manner used and respected for centuries.

"Tangible information is what a newspaper brings, and many in our community regard the printed word as the final say the commander has on any one subject," said Hatch. "Electronic news certainly moves faster but there's much to be said about the trust and tradition one gets with a newspaper in hand."

The internal information division also provides news via the base Web page at www.edwards.af.mil. The site is formatted as every other Air Force Web page and is managed by DMA, the central authority for Department of Defense news and information. However, Edwards' site includes a number of important local links like the base newcomers program, base tour requests and information, Desert Junior and Senior High Schools, and the Air Force Flight Test Center Museum to name a few.

"The base Web page, Channel 6, the Straight Talk Line and our social media sites are where the community can find the latest on breaking news such as road closures and reporting delays due to weather or other phenomenon," said Strickler. "It's where the community can tune in 24 hours a day to see what's happening because we can, and often do, update those sources remotely and after duty hours."

Another tool the commander uses is base-wide e-mail via the Microsoft Outlook base e-mail system. This channel puts vital information directly on the desktop of Edwards users and is reserved for those important messages that require immediate delivery that no other channel can provide.

"Base-wide e-mail is used sparingly because of the thousands of messages generated by such a large distribution list, and the corresponding out-of-office, full box and error messages that are generated in response," said Strickler. "One note can potentially quadruple the mail flow and stress the bases' limited server capacity, so the installation commander reviews every base-wide request before PA sends it and attachments are strictly prohibited without his express approval."

"The best way to get information out is with good prior planning and use of our other nine venues; base-wide notes will not be sent in lieu of it," Strickler said.

Whether through e-mail, the base Web page, Edwards' social media sites, the Desert Wings, Channel 6, the Straight Talk line or the base telephone hold system, Public Affairs connects the commander's information mission with the base community's needs both on- and off-base. So tune to what's happening in the Flight Test Nation - in the manner of your choice - to take advantage of the incredible services Edwards has to offer.