Congratulations to all the winners in the Fourth Annual MILbloggies.  Winners will be presented Awards during the 2010 Sold-Out Milblog Conference taking place this weekend by our Platinum Sponsors:  USAA and General Electric.

U.S. Army
A Soldier's Perspective

U.S. Air Force
Afghanistan My Last Tour

U.S. Navy
Naval Institute Blog

U.S. Marine Corps
Castra Praetoria

U.S. Coast Guard
CGBlog

U.S. Military Veteran
Blackfive - The Paratrooper of Love

Foreign National Military
DoubleTapper

U.S. Military (Spouse)
A Little Pink in a World of Camo

U.S. Military (Parent)
You Betcha I'm a Proud Army Mom

U.S. Military Supporter
Not Your Average Brooklynette

U.S. Reporter
The Unknown Soldiers

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UPDATE:  Voting is now closed.

With less than 6 hours left in the Fourth Annual MILbloggies, I wanted to share some troubleshooting tips if you’re encountering any problems in voting. 

Has your MILblogging Account been activated?
If you’ve registered with MILblogging.com, but you never activated your account, you will not be able to sign in. Activation is a requirement.   If you do not receive an activation email after signing up, send me (JP) an email directly (milblogging@gmail.com) and I will activate the account for you.  Keep in mind, your email service provider might block our activation email.  It happens.  Sometimes it goes directly to your SPAM or TRASH folder, too.  But it could also be blocked by your service provider.  If you don’t receive an activation email, contact me and I will help. 

Don’t remember your Password?
If you need to recover your password, use the Password Recovery page.  If you still don’t receive the password recovery email, chances are it might be blocked by your service provider.  If that’s the case, please contact me directly and I will help.  If you’re certain you logged in to the website with the correct username and password, but the site still won’t let you sign in, make sure you’ve activated your account by email.  If you have never activated your account, the site will not let you sign in.

Is your Account active, but you still can’t sign in?
If you know your account is active, and you can’t sign in, please make sure your username and password are correct.  If either your username or password is incorrect, the site will not let you sign in.  I’ve had one or two users write me with login issues because the username they are trying to sign in with is not the username they registered when signing up.

Is more than one person signing in to MILblogging from the same computer?
If more than one person is trying to sign in to the same computer to place a vote (such as a family member), each person must completely sign out, before trying to sign in with a different account.  

How do I vote?
To vote in the MILbloggies, you must register, activate your account, then sign in, and place your vote one time in each eligible category.  You can place your votes here.

Webmaster Notes:

Blog removed from consideration due to vote count issues
I’ve discovered serious irregularities in registered email accounts that placed votes a blog and as a result the blog has been removed from MILbloggie consideration in the Foreign National Military Category this year.  I’m reviewing all categories throughout the day to ensure credible accounts are being registered.  I do my best to detect fraudulent accounts and also rely on readers to alert me to suspicious activity.  I want to keep this competition as fair and transparent as possible for all the family members, friends, readers, and blog supporters taking the time to register and vote.  While this in no way implies the actual blogger was in any way responsible for the irregularities, the accounts that were registered unfortunately caused the blog to be removed from this year’s voting.  Keep in mind, I’m keeping an eye on accounts that are being registered.  Please do not attempt to create fraudulent accounts as they will not be approved.

Website downtime
Military.com underwent a site upgrade early this morning (April 7, 2010) that also affected the Milblogging.com website for a short period of time.  Voting tallies were not impacted, however the website was not accessible during that period.

If you're experiencing problems, you need to let me know
I’ve responded to every email sent to me since the MILbloggies kicked off last week.  But if you’re encountering problems and you haven’t emailed me, then I cannot help.  Leaving a comment or sending emails to other bloggers will not resolve your issues, unless you let me personally know.  I know it can be frustrating to have login issues and I appreciate everyone’s patience during the MILbloggies, but I can help if you contact me and I will do my best to respond to you as quickly as possible. 

Last-minute emails
During the last hour of the MILbloggies which end at 11:59 PM EST tonight, I will do my best to respond to last-minute emails, but I may not be able to respond to everyone before the MILbloggies close.  Please contact me sooner, than later.

In the event of a tie
As a reminder, in case of a tie, voting will be extended in that category for an additional 15 minutes, and will continue to be extended every 15 minutes in that category until the tie is broken.

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There are 0 seats left for the upcoming MilBlog Conference.  You can no longer register to attend. 

While we strongly encouraged early registration, the conference is sold out and there will be no onsite registration available as we’ve reached our maximum capacity.  If you didn’t register in time, you’ll be able to catch the conference on Livestream:

http://www.vamortgagecenter.com/blog/livestream/

For those attending this year's conference, please take a look at the fun-filled, jam-packed agenda and the awesome list of speakers.  This year is special as it marks the Fifth Anniversary of the premiere event of the year for military bloggers. 

We've stacked the agenda with a substantive, engaging conference and we've filled all remaining holes with more social events than ever before.  You can sit down with film director Jake Rademacher,  place someone under arrest at the Jail N' Bail, witness a live acoustic performance by Saving Abel, mix and mingle at Friday night's cocktail reception and party till the wee hours at the Fifth Anniversary Awards Ceremony and Party on Saturday night...

--Andi

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For those of you new to MILblogging.com and the MILbloggies, you might have questions about voting for military blogs in the Fourth Annual MILbloggies.  To help, I’ve written step by step instructions on how to vote for a military blog.  With the nomination phase over, the top 5 nominees (finalists) in each eligible category have now moved into the final Voting phase. 

Step 1: Register and Sign In

To register on Milblogging.com, see the Registration page.  Registration is required in order to participate in the MILbloggies.  It’s free and you won’t receive any SPAM.  I do write a regular newsletter, but if you don’t want to receive it, simply uncheck the box when signing up.  When you register, an Activation Email will be sent to your email address.  You have to click the Activation link in the email in order to get started and sign in.  Unfortunately, some email providers block the activation email and password reminder emails, so please email me directly if you encounter problems.  This is generally the biggest problem for people wanting to vote, since many email providers block these types of emails.  But I can help.  Send me (JP) an email directly and I will activate your account. 

Once you’ve successfully registered, you can sign in at any time and take advantage of all the MILblogging.com features, including submitting your own military blog to the Milblogging index, and of course, participating in this year’s MILbloggies. 

Step 2:  Vote

Once you are signed in, the voting process is very easy.  Click here to go to the Voting Standings page (top left screenshot), click on the category, then simply place your vote (bottom right screenshot, above). 

Keep in mind, you can place exactly one vote in each category.  I display the number of Nominations each Finalist received for informational purposes only, so that the people know how they finished during the Nomination phase.  The number of Nominations has nothing to do with the final vote count.  The military blog in each category with the most votes placed, will be this year’s winner.

You can watch the real-time standings here for all categories.

Webmaster Notes:

If you take the time to write me with any issues you’re encountering, I will be happy to help and will reply as quickly as possible.  Everyone who has emailed me (milblogging@gmail.com) has received a personal response from me and I’ve resolved their issues.  If you don’t receive your activation email or your password recovery email, let me know and I will activate your account or provide you with your password information.

In case of a tie, voting will be extended in that category for an additional 15 minutes, and will continue to be extended every 15 minutes until the tie is broken.

Winners will be announced at the 2010 Milblog Conference  on April 10th by this year's Platinum Sponsors USAA and General Electric.

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Thank you to everyone who participated so far, but it’s not over.  Congratulations to all the Finalists.  Voting has begun in the Fourth Annual MILbloggies, which will end on Wednesday, April 7 at 11:59 PM EST.  To find out who advanced as a Finalist in this year’s MILbloggies and to cast your vote in each category, go here.  Voting is easy.  Just go to the Standings, click on a category, then cast your vote for one of the finalists. 

Winners will be announced at the 2010 Milblog Conference  on April 10th by this year's Platinum Sponsors USAA and General Electric.  Winners are not required to attend the conference.

Questions? Comments? Concerns? Feel free to send an email to milblogging@gmail.com

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Air Force Captain, Jenna Wilcox, died from injuries suffered when a tire exploded in her lap.  She had recently returned home from Afghanistan.  Her husband, who also serves in the military, was with her at the time.

Captain Wilcox ran a military blog from Afghanistan called Jenna’s Blog. 

In her final post dated March 21, 2010, Jenna writes:

This will be my last entry. Both Scott and I are home, safe and sound and I no longer have a reason to continue with this blog.

There were several purposes for this blog. The first and foremost was to share my experiences with family and friends. I also wanted to let people know about the military and what we experience in a combat zone. As an Air Force Officer who is not a pilot, it is very unlikely that I will again be in a situation where I am the war fighter. I am usually in a support role; my job ensures that planes get off the ground so they can fight the enemy. But this time, I was the one directly fighting the enemy. To the pleasure of my parents, that probably won't happen again.

Scotsman.com has the full story on the tragic event:

WITNESSES have described the moment a car tyre exploded on the lap of tragic Jenna Wilcox – just moments after her husband stopped at a garage to get help.

Decorated US air force officer Ms Wilcox - who survived a roadside bomb attack in Afghanistan - died in Edinburgh's Western General Hospital this week – five days after the freak explosion.

The blast blew out the windows of the couple's sports car, left the 27-year-old critically injured and her husband Scott, who also serves in the US air force, wounded.

Read the entire story here.

Thank you to my good friend Troy for sending me the story.

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As I mentioned earlier, the turnout has been great.  The top five nominees in each category will head into the voting phase starting tomorrow: Sunday, April 4th.  To track in real time the nomination standings of the Fourth Annual MILbloggies, please visit this page. To learn more about the MILbloggies, jump over to the Official Page.  I've also posted step by step instructions to answer questions about registering, signing in and nominating a blog.

Questions? Comments? Concerns? Send me (JP) an email to milblogging@gmail.com  I will do my best to respond to your email as quickly as possible, but because of the number of inquiries I receive each year during the MILbloggies, it may take a bit longer to reply.  I've responded to every message I've received so far, so please email me if you encounter any problems.

Just a reminder, this year’s MILbloggies will be presented by the Fifth Annual MILblog Conference Platinum Sponsors: USAA and General Electric.

About the MILbloggies

Launched in 2005, The MILbloggies Awards recognize military bloggers for their contribution to blogging, news and information, and to the military over the past year.

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Have questions about nominating military blogs in the Fourth Annual MILbloggies?  No problem.  Here are some step by step instructions on how to nominate a military blog.  Remember, the nomination phase ends tonight at 11:59 PM EST, then the top 5 nominees in each eligible category move into the final Voting phase.

Step 1: Register and Sign In

To register on Milblogging.com, see the Registration page.  Registration is required in order to participate in the MILbloggies.  It’s free and you won’t receive any SPAM.  When you register, an Activation Email will be sent to your email address.  You have to click the Activation link in the email in order to get started and sign in.  Unfortunately, some email providers block the activation email and password reminder emails, so please email me directly if you encounter problems. 

Once you’ve successfully registered, you can sign in at any time and take advantage of all the MILblogging.com features, including participating in the MILbloggies. 

Step 2:  Find a Military Blog

There are a number of ways to find military blogs on MILblogging.com.  You can search Country, Language, Gender, Branch, Alphabetical, and more search features available at the top of every page on the web site.  You can use the basic search box, but if you’re looking to find a blog quickly, use the Advanced Search.  The Advanced Search gives you the option for making your searches more precise and getting more useful results. 

Step 3: Nominate

Once you find a military blog in the MILblogging.com database, you’ll the Military Blog Profile page for that particular milblog (like the screenshot above).  

If the blog is eligible for a MILbloggie, you’ll see a Nominate button right at the very top of the blog’s Profile.  When you find a military blog you want to nominate, simply click the Nominate button and place your nomination.  You can watch the real-time nomination standings here for all categories.

Important:  A military blog won't be displayed in the Nomination Standings until it receives at least 1 nomination.

Webmaster Notes

During the Voting phase, you’ll also need to be signed in to Vote. 

If you notice a blog is in the wrong category, please drop me a line and let me know.  If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, you can also email me directly and I will respond as quickly as possible.

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The turnout has been great.  The top five nominees in each category will head into the voting phase starting Sunday, April 4th.  To track in real time the nomination standings of the Fourth Annual MILbloggies, please visit this page. To learn more about the MILbloggies, jump over to the Official Page.

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10 Must-Listen Military Podcasts
The term “podcasting” was first used in 2004, and soon every Tom, Dick and Harry with an MP3 player began to record and listen to audio and video snippets across the Internets. Six years later, podcasters are still doing their thing, and us, the listeners, are still enjoying the end product.
(Military Boots Blog)

375th Engineer Company returning to Huntsville after a year in Iraq
HUNTSVILLE, AL -- The 375th Engineer Company out of Huntsville will return home from a year's deployment in Iraq on Saturday.  The main body of the 135-soldier unit is scheduled to arrive by charter plane at Signature Flight Support at the Huntsville International Airport at 5:25 p.m., according to 1st Lt. Chris Cunningham, who has written a weekly "Soldier's Diary" column from Iraq for The Times.
(al.com)

Defence of the Realm
A military blog written by defence analyst Dr Richard North, Defence of the Realm provides in-depth analysis of issues facing our troops, the MoD and military-related issues.
(politics.co.uk)

WELCOME HOME TROOPS CELEBRATION 2010
My name is April Dygert, and I am a 3rd grade Language Arts teacher at Tatum Primary School in Tatum, Texas. I am interested in having my students create posters and cards to send. I was wondering if I could get more information on this? If I had my students make banners, where and how would I send these? Also, If we made cards, what is the address for me to send these to? I teach 115 3rd grade students, and I could have all of them create a card."
(Letters to Soldiers)

Got a social media story related to the military? Drop me a line: milblogging@gmail.com

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Each time I run the MILbloggies I try to include a new category after receiving feedback from readers and users.  The bloggers in the Foreign National Military, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Reporter categories need some love.   This is the first year for U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Reporter in the MILbloggies.  Other categories already have some high tallies, but if you have a blog you like in these other categories its crucial you make your voice heard.  It’s as easy as 1 2 3.  While you're signed in, you can nominate as many blogs as you'd like, each exactly once.

Here are the full listings for U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Reporter and Foreign National Military.

The nomination phase ends Saturday, April 3, at 11:59 PM EST.

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April Fools.  But seriously, here are some stories circulating right now.

Air Force, Marines advance on social networks
Be open, but be careful. That's the watchword for those serving in the Air Force and in the Marines, who can now tweet and use Facebook for official military business and authorized personal matters.  The U.S. Air Force is slowly and cautiously opening its network to social media sites, starting this week with five bases in the Pacific, to be followed by a wider rollout later in April, according to the Air Force's official Web site. The U.S. Marine Corps, meanwhile, this week opened up full access to all personnel, says the Marine Corps Times.
(CNET)

Reporters Reflect on ‘30 Days Through Afghanistan’
WASHINGTON, March 29, 2010 – Two military journalists behind an ambitious NATO International Security Assistance Force project to traverse Afghanistan in one month and file daily reports in words, photos and video recapped their experiences in a March 25 “DoD Live” bloggers roundtable. The Web-based project, titled “30 Days Through Afghanistan,” concluded March 15. It was the brainchild of Air Force Tech. Sgts. Ken Raimondi, whose background is in broadcasting, and Nathan Gallahan, a photojournalist. Both are based at ISAF’s Joint Command in Kabul.
(Defense.gov)

Corps lifts ban on social networking sites
All Marines can now access popular social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube at work, and they don’t even have to apply for a waiver to do so.  Marine Administrative message 181/10, which dropped Monday, officially lifts the previous ban on social networking, giving Marines the access they need to check their personal e-mail or post blogs online while using the Marine Corps Enterprise Network. The move brings the Corps in line with a Feb. 26 Pentagon policy urging the services to provide access to social networking sites on nonclassified computer networks.
(Marines Corps Times)

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To track in real time the nomination standings of the Fourth Annual MILbloggies, please visit this page.

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Platinum Sponsor USAA presents "An Hour With Jake Rademacher" at the Fifth Anniversary MilBlog Conference. USAA has reserved a room on April 9, from 5:00 - 6:00 at The Westin Arlington Gateway Hotel for milbloggers to meet and chat with Jake, Director of the film, Brothers at War. All registered attendees are eligible to attend this presentation.

--Andi

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The 2010 Fourth Annual MILbloggies has officially kicked off today, and runs through April 7, 2010 until 11:59 PM EST.  The MILbloggies are currently in the nomination phase, which will last until Saturday, April 3 11:59 PM.  The top 5 nominees in each eligible category then move into the Voting Phase starting Sunday, April 4.

You can keep track of the nomination standings in real time on Milblogging.com here.

You must register and sign in to Milblogging.com to nominate a military blog and you can nominate as many blogs as you want in each category, but you can only nominate the same blog once.  Registration is free and we do not send spam, but it’s required in order to vote and to eliminate bogus nominations/votes.

Tell your friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors about the MILbloggies and have them nominate your blog by simply logging in, finding your listing on Milblogging.com, and clicking the Nominate button.

If you do not want your blog considered for a Milbloggie award, please send me an email and I can temporarily place your blog in the Uncategorized category.  Also, if your blog is not properly categorized, you can update the category by claiming your blog or by sending me an email with the change.

The awards will be presented by the 2010 MILblog Conference Sponsors at this year’s Milblog Conference being held April 9 and 10 in Arlington, VA.  You are not required to attend the Conference in order to receive your award(s). 

For instructions on how to nominate a blog, see the Official Milbloggies page.

Questions? Comments? Concerns? Send me (JP) an email to milblogging@gmail.com  I will do my best to respond to your email as quickly as possible, but because of the number of inquiries I receive each year during the MILbloggies and because I have a day job, it may take a bit longer to reply.

About the MILbloggies

Launched in 2005, The MILbloggies Awards recognize military bloggers for their contribution to blogging, news and information, and to the military over the past year.

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The Westin Arlington Gateway, Arlington, VA

Friday Evening, April 9:

5:00 - 6:00 - USAA presents an hour with filmmaker Jake Rademacher

6:00 - 6:30 - Registration (sign-in, pick up your name badge and informational package)

6:30 - 7:45 - Kick-off Panel

8:00 - Cocktail Reception Begins (cash bar and hors d'oeuvres)

9:00 - 10:00 - Charity Jail N' Bail to benefit Soldiers' Angels and Homes for Our Troops

10:00 - 10:30 - Saving Abel Acoustic Performance

11:00 - Cocktail Reception Ends

Saturday Morning-Evening, April 10:

7:45 - 8:45 - Continental Breakfast

9:00 - 5:30 - Formal Conference Program

8:00 - 8:30 – Cocktails

8:30 - 9:30 – Dinner

9:30 - 10:00 - Awards Ceremony and Special Presentation

10:00 - Midnight - Fifth Anniversary Party and Celebration

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Military Softens Policy of No Re-Tweet
Like other big, risk-averse organizations, the U.S. military's first encounter with social media was marked by outright rejection: Just thinking about all that unstructured, chaotic communication probably gave some senior officers a rash, especially when it carried with it the possibility of security breaches. But in another sign that there is social media hope for even the most curmudgeonly of institutions, the military has changed its tune, according to the Frederick News Post (located in Frederick, Maryland, just a few miles from the U.S. Army's Fort Detrick).
(MediaPost)

Playing by Different Rules: the Military and Private Security Contractors
Be warned. HP posts aren't supposed to go long, especially not long quotes, but the following is a three-page quote. It is taken from the book Kaboom: Embracing the Suck in a Savage Little War, released last week. The author is Matt Gallagher, a former junior Army officer who served in the armored cavalry. He served 15 months in Iraq and ran the popular military blog Kaboom: A Soldier's War Journal.
(The Huffington Post)

The Warriors Wall
If you’re a veteran of military service (or you love someone who is), The Warriors Wall offers an opportunity to create a blog — your own website, actually — as a way to share your experiences and connect with other veterans.  In addition to providing a place to do all that for free, The Warriors Wall regularly offers new ideas along those lines from Sue Diaz, an award-winning journalist and leader of writing workshops for war veterans.
(The Warriors Wall)

Dog Tags for Kids
We heard a story about a soldier who was in Iraq, and he wanted to sent his kids a package. They were so excited to receive it because they got something from Dad who had been away for some time. He sent the only things he had access to: a couple of band aids and some sun screen. The kids didn't care, after all, it came from Dad!!  Help us send dog tags to troops in Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan so they can send them to their kids back home!
(Dog Tags for Kids)

Corvette - Apache Helicopter Comparison video
Four-star Gen. Richard Cody and his son, Maj. Clint Cody, are Apache helicopter pilots and Corvette owners. In this video they show us similarities between their favorite modes of transportation.
(YouTube)

Wounded soldier collects school supplies to send to Afghan kids
Liisa Temple, an adjunct professor in Tampa, sent what she could to her husband's Air Force team. The team is able to deliver supplies in areas where most humanitarian groups aren't able to go. With the help of other donators, Liisa Temple estimates that at least 600 boxes of supplies have been sent. After Lowe was wounded, she contacted him for support. She said Lowe has been a great spokesman for the cause.
(The Washington Post)

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We are pleased to announce the addition of General Electric as a Platinum sponsor for the upcoming 2010 MILblog Conference.

Without the support of our sponsors, the conference wouldn't be possible. We greatly appreciate all of our sponsors!

--Andi

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Friday, April 9

6:30 - 7:45p - A Marathon, Not a Sprint

This roundtable brings together a diverse panel of some of the earliest milbloggers. Panelists will reflect on five conferences and several years of milblogging. Speakers will discuss the evolution of milblogging and share their thoughts on what they think the future of milblogging may look like.

Moderator, Greyhawk
mudvillegazette.com

Speaker, Matt Burden
blackfive.net

Speaker, Taco Bell
sandgram.com

Speaker, SGT Mom
ncobrief.com

Speaker, Juliette (aka Baldilocks)
luoamerican.com/baldilocks/military

Saturday, April 10:

9:30 - 10:30a - The Charitable Landscape

Representatives from various troop supporting organizations will examine how the use of social media has changed the way non-profits communicate with their membership, donors and the general public. This panel will  discuss the challenges and benefits of social media, and how we can assist in their efforts to support the military community.

Moderator, Greta Perry
yatmedia.com

Speaker, Shelle Michaels
soldiersangels.org

Speaker, Vivian Greentree
bluestarfam.org

Speaker, Keith Hensley
woundedwarriorproject.org

Speaker, Taylor Kiland
navymemorial.org

10:45 - 12:00 - National Security Smorgasbord

A diverse panel of reporters, strategists and pundits discuss a wide range of topics including the state of our National Security, the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq and media coverage of military

Moderator, Greyhawk
mudvillegazette.com

Speaker, Abe Sofaer
hoover.org

Speaker, Michael Yon
michaelyon-online.com

TBA

1:30 - 2:30 - MG David Hogg Live from Afghanistan

MG Hogg will address Afghan Army Commando Training. The Afghan Army is in a process of development and capability growth, with the primary emphasis on building an Infantry-centric force that can rapidly deploy in support of current operations.  The current challenge in Afghanistan is predominantly Counter-Insurgency.  To increase the Afghan Army's own COIN capability, it has developed Commando training and Commando units. These are highly trained, Afghan-led units that provide the critical COIN capability. MG. Hogg will discuss Commando training at the Center for Training Excellence, a Commando training overview, and additionally, MG Hogg is open to other questions regarding the successes and challenges of developing an Afghan Army and it's road to self-sufficiency.

2:30 - 3:45 - The View From the Top

Senior military and DoD officials discuss the rewards and challenges of social media in a military environment

Moderator, Jamie McIntyre
lineofdeparture.com

Speaker, Admiral J.C. Harvey, Jr.
usfleetforces.blogspot.com

Speaker, Price Floyd
twitter.com/pricefloyd

Speaker, Col. Gregory T. Breazile (Marine Corps)

4:00 - 5:15 - Legislation, Military-Style

Lawmakers, military advocates and policy crafters discuss policy-making with respect to military affairs

Moderator, Colin Clark
dodbuzz.com

Speaker, Winslow Wheeler
Straus Military Reform Project

Speaker, Brandon Friedman
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

---Andi

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Marines lift social media ban
STUTTGART, Germany — The Marine Corps lifted its ban on social media sites Monday, allowing Marines from Japan to the States to sign on to YouTube, Facebook and Twitter and other sites.But it looks like European-based Marines — along with other troops in Europe — will have to wait a little longer: As of Tuesday, servicemembers in Europe were still unable to log onto the sites from their government computers.
(Stars and Stripes)

US Air Force uses social media at SES New York 2010 with David Meerman Scott
Greg Jarboe, SEO-PR, interviews SES NY 2010 keynote speaker, David Meerman Scott, marketing strategist and bestselling author of The New Rules of Marketing and PR and World Wide Rave. David describes how the United States Air Force began following him on Twitter. Exploring this further, David discovered the United States Air force allows all 330,000 thousand of its staff to use social media, such as Twitter, Facebook and linked-in.
(YouTube)

Tweaking the Twitter homepage
Twitter's homepage is a work-in-progress. Today, we're testing a new design that bubbles up more of the information flowing through Twitter. This builds on a series of changes starting last year when we redesigned the homepage to make search and trending topics more visible and easily accessible to everyone. With that version, we brought the power of search.twitter.com to the homepage and let people explore the value of Twitter without an account.
(Twitter Blog)

Army food: the battle of the bulge
It was visions of Ambrosia that sustained the Spartans, while GIs in the Vietnam War imagined the culinary and sensual pleasures of Saigon. For the troops fighting in the Helmand desert, fantasies tend to focus on chilled milkshakes and Double Whoppers served up on a neon-lit strip of Kandahar airbase known as “The Boardwalk”.
(Times Online)

Marine Corps reverses ban on social networks
The U.S. Marine Corps has reversed a ban on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other popular Internet communication tools on its network.  An order released Monday lifted a ban issued last August while the Corps reviewed its policies for the use of social media, Google Docs, blogs, e-mail and instant messaging on its own Marine Corps Enterprise Network.
(San Francisco Chronicle)

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