CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Today, an Airman from the 1st Combat Camera Squadron can shoot video from virtually anywhere in the world and make it available to leaders across the Department of Defense, commercial news outlets and internal media in a matter of hours. A commander can e-mail her squadron from a cell phone while on temporary duty. And a deployed NCO can receive and digitally sign their enlisted performance report from a tent in Iraq.
Technology has made these and other methods of communication not only possible, but commonplace in today's Air Force and society. As a result, there is more information fighting for our time and attention than ever before.
In this type of information-overload environment, the question for communicators --and as Airmen, all of us are communicators -- is, "How can I ensure my information rises above all the noise out there?"
In combat camera, the answer to that challenge is ensuring that our products -- video footage and photographs -- are unparalleled in quality and timeliness. Accomplishing this requires an enormous amount of training, logistical support and, ultimately, sweat. But meeting our mission of highlighting the contributions of Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines across the spectrum of military operations makes it more than worthwhile.
During the past few months, we have deployed our squadron's Airmen to Europe to document the United States' support to Georgia and to Texas and Louisiana for hurricane recovery efforts, all while continually supporting the war in Iraq and humanitarian efforts in Africa.
Yet, despite our squadron's wealth of experience in the communication realm, gained through a high operations tempo and continuous training, we continually strive to improve.
On Oct. 1, for instance, 1 CTCS re-aligned from the 621st Contingency Operations Support Group, based at McGuire AFB, N.J., to the newly-formed Air Force Public Affairs Agency. This change will help streamline our communication efforts and reduce the amount of red tape required to accomplish the mission.
While the 1 CTCS and its Airmen are unique in regards to their mission, the communication lessons learned here apply to any organization or individual. Here are some tenets of effective communication to consider.
· Make every communication effort -- be it an e-mail, slideshow or face-to-face conversation -- count. Sharing unimportant or poorly constructed information is a sure-fire way to lose credibility.
· Communicate in a timely manner. Providing a subordinate with their initial feedback four months after they arrive on station is like combat camera releasing a photo from relief efforts in Texas a month after the storm: too little, too late.
· Continually re-examine the effectiveness of communication efforts being made and be flexible enough to make changes. An organization or individual unwilling to adapt loses relevancy and will soon have more difficulties than the ability to communicate.
· Above all, be honest. One benefit to the barrage of information absorbed by Airmen on a daily basis is their ability to sniff out when something doesn't smell quite right.
Technology will continue to present new and easier ways to communicate and the information space will continue to crowd. Sticking to these basic tenets of communication is one way to ensure your message doesn't get drowned out in the roar of information.