The ongoing “Marines United” scandal, as well as emerging illicit photo sharing scandals in the Army and Navy, raise the question of whether social media helps or hurts the good order and discipline of the United States military.
In past weeks, the vast amount of mounting evidence on the “Marines United” Facebook group page supplies ample evidence that the ability to post, share, notify, and freely distribute various forms of electronic media has been exceptionally damaging to the discipline of the Marines. In addition, written social media comments by Marines United members, visitors, and other parties against women and other service members has been damaging. In this instance, clearly, the use of Facebook and other social media platforms has damaged both the image of the U.S. military and the reputation of serving military members, primarily women.
Social media and the U.S. military have become inextricably linked together. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg’s recent visit to Fort Bragg demonstrates the clear and tight linkage between the two. Every major command in the military employs social media to communicate its mission, values, and selected activities to the public and its own members. Finally, social media is a communication lifeline between deployed service members and family members. Despite the Marines United scandal and others emerging across the services, the continued use of social media by the military is a certainty. There are several immediate and effective steps that the military can take today to ensure a better, more effective use of social media.
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Chad Storlie is an OpsLens Contributor and retired Lieutenant Colonel with 20-plus years of Active and Reserve service in infantry, Special Forces, and joint headquarters units.
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