Posted on Aug 10, 2015
SSG Alleria Stanley
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In the past, the military was much more bonded "at home".
Bases/posts were "company towns". Everyone lived there, shopped there, ate there, recreated there, worshipped there...

We are now very much a military that when we clock out, we scatter to the winds. Many families live outside the gates, often with nary another military family in their neighborhood. Servicemembers see each other only at work, and service families don't connect at all.
It's one reason we attribute to the failure of the FRGS (Army) or service equivalent.

While there's much to be said for the change - better housing, more social options, integrating and mixing with our civilian populace - what have we lost?
Shared knowledge? Unit cohesiveness? Support for families?

What do you think? How would you, as a Leader, address this in a positive way for units, servicemembers, and Family, while recognizing and embracing the changed dynamics?
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Responses: 2
SSgt Alex Robinson
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There is something to be said for told school days when unit cohesiveness was the most important part of morale. We live in s disconnected society now which hurts
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SGT Ben Keen
SGT Ben Keen
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I agree yet disagree with your statement about being a disconnected society. I think with the advent of things like social media we are more connected than ever but only through the "wonderful world" of the internet. Thanks to things like social media, emails and video calling, we are able to connect with people far from our community circle.

Yet, at the same time, this drives a wedge into the local community. Rather than having huge community celebrations, we are seeing a raise in community riots because of disagreements and stuff. And rather than sitting out on the neighbor's porch we rather sit on the couch and just text them.

I'm not saying social media is a bad thing, I think its a great thing. The thing people need to learn is how to unplug from time to time and actually get out of their homes.
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SSgt Alex Robinson
SSgt Alex Robinson
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Ben, we would be better served to put the technology and social media down and really talk and connect in a more personal way.
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SGT Ben Keen
SGT Ben Keen
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In some cases I think we would but in others it serves a critical purpose. Look at RallyPoint. Here we have a social media network helping and doing great things for Veterans that wouldn't be able to be done in person.
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SGT Ben Keen
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I think this sort of reflects a military that has been at work for over 14 years. Let's face it, as service members, we have spent more time with our units deployed than our families. Yet I think that is why it is more important than ever to have a strong supportive community. I think it is critical that Leaders take the time to host joint events that bring friends and family together in a supportive environment to help when we are gone.
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