Sorry for the communication blackout. Blogs are once again blocked, hence the sparse posting for the last 2 weeks.
Ran across this article today, which explains some of the problem: Army Squeezes Soldier Blogs, Maybe to Death. Basically the new policy is that you must get approval from your Commander before posting anything on your blog. Most of us are guessing that rather then waste the Commander's time, most units will just ban blogs all together.
It is really frustrating for us because I think most of you at home would agree that soldier blogs provide a window into this war that has never before been utilized. Not that it is always positive, but for most part they are real life. In a time when the military is struggling for public support, you would think our stories would be encouraged and not the other way around. I honestly don't understand where they are coming from. My guess is that the brass is just being risk averse and rather then have to deal with the few troublemakers that violate op-sec or something like that, they are going into widespread lockdown mode.
I'm not giving up the fight yet, as this blog has really meant a lot to me over the last 13 months. I honestly feel that my morale has been better because of it, and I think that my friends and family have benefited from hearing about what I'm up to. But, I'm sure it won't be long before the new rules get pushed down to my level and the plug gets pulled. We've already seen a pretty advanced decline in what we are allowed to read and say, so I don't see it getting better. It is a shame because I'm sure soldiers that are just getting into theater and have a story to tell will most likely not want to deal with all of the BS and resort to keeping in touch solely by email or phone. It looks like the Army will win this battle, but lose the war for public support.
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7 comments:
So sad, to read this. I would really hate to see milblogs, and particularly Your blog, shut down.
I'll be going to the Milblog Conference this weekend, I'm sure this will be a hot topic there! I'll have to send you an email afterwards,lol, since you're already 'blocked' from reading my puny little AOL troop support blog.(which makes no sense, I'm not even a good blogger,rofl.)
Hang in there!!
Steve,
We want to thank you for keeping us updated with pictures and stories about tour of duty in Iraq. I know that I could go to your blog and find out what was going on in your lives and it gave me comfort to know that you were all doing well and to get a perspective of what life has been like for your unit the last 18 mos.
You have made us laugh and cry and taken away worry. So, thanks for all of your time, effort and energy you spent on your blog each week.
God has blessed you with the ability to write and you have blessed us by it. Hope to meet you when you get home so we can thank you in person. See you all soon.
The Burnham's
Okay, I just went in and read the article.
"The U.S. military -- all militaries -- have long been concerned about their personnel inadvertently letting sensitive information out....
Military blogs, or milblogs, as they're known in service-member circles, only make the potential for mischief worse..."
Huh. That's funny. I thought the media was doing that?
Ma Beans
Yes, Chappy's Uncle Randy and I will especially miss your blog with all the pictures. You showed us all how to make the best of living in difficult situations. We can learn much from you.
One of Uncle Randy's cousins emailed me tonight to say that she started emailing a soldier stationed overseas and because she has so much energy, I think the soldier she's writing to, is lucky.
We liked reading your blog site though, because it helped us keep in touch with Chaplain Todd Luken.
Would be our privilege to meet you and some of your associates some time if you ever get to Minnesota or if we ever get to Nebraska. Randy goes to Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis and I go to Holy Rosary Catholic Church closeby.
Thanks again for helping us all get you from there to back here again. Hope we can still hear from you, but if the internet trolls who control the military blogs, say "No way Hose," then concentrate on heading back home, only a couple months away now.
Thanks again. Sounds like you have a wonderful family waiting for you at home, too.
Judy and Uncle Randy
aw man~ that would just sooooo suck.
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