SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- Despite winning 14 awards from Unites States Air Forces in Europe Public Affairs for 2012, 52nd Fighter Wing PA recognizes there is always room for improvement. We all know that no matter how good you are, there are others who think anyone can do your job and can probably do it better.
With that in mind, we set out to gain your expertise on how we, and by extension, wing leadership, can improve information sharing. Of the possible 14,000 active-duty personnel, civilians, dependents and local national workers connected to Spangdahlem Air Base, 3 percent participated in a 2012 communication survey designed to collect information on where you get your news and your preferred method of delivery.
Here are the hard facts from the survey: 67.1 percent of participants get information from the internet; smaller percentages use newspaper, TV, radio, word of mouth and e-mails. For wing-specific information 47.3 percent of participants use the official Spangdahlem AB website, www.spangdahlem.af.mil, and word of mouth; 14.6 percent rely on the E-Herald and 11.8 percent use social media.
In addition to multiple choice survey questions to get general statistics, we also asked participants to provide comments. Some were a bit abrupt and did not necessarily enlighten this staff, but others brought up very good ideas, so we've implemented a few changes.
For example, the official webpage was rearranged to provide easier-to-access links. You'll notice the main page offers you one-click access to medical information, social media links, basic news and much more. Start by educating yourself on the wing's mission, pillars and priorities at the top center of the page. Tell your incoming personnel to click the "Welcome to Spangdahlem" link before they get here, and click "Legal Blotter" under the Quick Links section to learn the consequences of making the wrong choices.
Several survey participants expressed an interest in a one-stop shop for all on- and off-base events. Base and community activities are collected on one page and updated each time our office receives publicity requests or notifications of an on- or off-base event. This page is found on the official website under the quick link, "Community Events." You will see three sections as you scroll down the page: Upcoming Events, Ongoing Events, and Was ist Los?, which lists local community events. You can help keep this page up to date by calling public affairs at 452-6012 or sending details to our organizational e-mail address, 52fw.paoffice@us.af.mil.
Participants asked why the base does not have a physical newspaper anymore especially since the Kaiserslautern area surrounding Ramstein AB, Germany, still produces one. Unfortunately for our newspaper generation, local advertising is not plentiful enough for a contractor to produce a base newspaper. A related question asks why the electronic E-Herald cannot be longer since it is online and not printed. With layout, editing, and review, the current four-page E-Herald takes about six hours to create each week. Since all the information in the E-Herald is already on the website, there is no way to justify our staff taking even more time on the newsletter and less time covering other events and units across the base.
To help ease concerns that information is not getting out, public affairs added more information to primary venues and researched ways to reach more personnel electronically. This year, we've added an optional sign up for e-mail updates (available on the main website), and we are mere days from launching a smart phone application so you can keep track of events occurring on and around the base.
To compliment these changes, I ask that you to share information with anyone who will listen. Word of mouth is underrated in this day of tweets, e-mails and messenger programs that need decoder manuals for all the ridiculous acronyms (is it that hard to write out your style of laughter, lol?). Everyone can take time to get out from behind the desk and talk to people.
We are taking other comments and suggestions into consideration, and you can expect to see even more changes as the year progresses. In the end, we don't expect to please all of the people all of the time, but we'll try our hardest to get you the information you need. If you have more suggestions, we are more than happy to chat. As I've already indicated, word of mouth is still a viable form of communication, and we're here to help you.
Information sources:
Spangdahlem Air Base official website:www.spangdahlem.af.mil
This website contains stories, photographs and video directly related to the 52nd FW. Users can expect to see articles and imagery of different groups and squadrons, plus features on unique events or personnel.
Spangdahlem Air Base Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SpangdahlemAirBase
Go to the facebook page for photos and general information on major base events or just random thoughts of the day. Look for facebook updates during road condition changes from red to black and reporting procedures during extreme weather.
52 FW Commander Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/52FWCommandTeam
Do you want information directly from the boss? Follow your wing commander's page for a variety of information from awards to official announcements.
Saber Commander Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/sabercc
Not a facebook fan? Follow the boss's twitter feed to get periodic updates on wing news.
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/spangdahlemairbase
Pretty self-explanatory. Take a look at what's happening in the wing.
RSS feeds: http://www.spangdahlem.af.mil/rss/
RSS feeds are a great tool that takes the legwork out of searching the internet. Sign up for feeds about base news, local community tips and events, or Air Force spotlight videos.
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/spangdahlemairbase
Did you notice a photographer at your ceremony, but don't know where to find the photos? Check out the base's Flickr account for photographs not shown on the official website.
AFN Spangdahlem: http://spangdahlem.afneurope.net/
AFN Spangdahlem is the only radio station in the local area with designated English-speaking DJs and a team of broadcasters covering your wing event.