Fort Hood Town Hall Case Study

FORT HOOD FACEBOOK AND TV TOWN HALL - 26 JAN 2012 1

RE-WATCH THE TOWN HALL AT http://youtu.be/1WCmBSJ0qAU III CORPS & FORT HOOD PAO AS OF 29 MAR 2012The appearance of logos on this site does not constitute official endorsement on behalf of the U.S. Army or Department of Defense.

26 JAN 2012 III Corps conducted the Army’s first simultaneous Facebook and TV multimedia Town Hall.

Facebook questions were received from 5-7 p.m. on the III Corps and Fort Hood Facebook wall.

Phone-in questions were received from 5:30-7 p.m.

The CG and his panel answered both Facebook and phone-in questions live on TV and radio from 6-7 p.m.

Panel members included the Garrison Commander, Hospital Commander and Fort Hood Family Housing Director of Property Management.

Despite a broadcast technical glitch, the Fort Hood Facebook and TV Town Hall was an overwhelming success as demonstrated by the overall reach of our social media and broadcast capabilities.

FORT HOOD TOWN HALL



FORT HOOD DEMOGRAPHICSFort Hood’s Land Area equals

214,895 acres or 335.8 square miles. The Army operates one of the largest and most diverse military posts worldwide in Central Texas.

Fort Hood is currently home to more than 46,000 Soldiers, and more than 100,000 family members (18,300 on post and 81,700 off post). One out of every 10 active duty Soldiers in the Army is assigned to Fort Hood.

Fort Hood’s economic impact last year is estimated at $10.9 billion statewide. It also distinguishes itself as the largest single local location employer in the State of Texas - with more than 21,000 civilian employees and contractors working here.

When you total all the retirees and their Family members utilizing services on post the total population exceeds 350,000.

OVERALL PARTICIPATION

Retirees 133,000

Civilian 21,000

Family150,000

Military46,500

POPULATION = 350,500

214,895 acres

Largest employer in Central Texas



•News brief (12, 19, 26 JAN)•Pre-story (19 JAN) •CG Editorial (26 JAN, 2 FEB)•Post-story (2 FEB)

•Radio spot (18-26 JAN)•Shared with 14 off-post

stations and AAFES.•Broadcast event live.

•4 television promos (17 JAN)•Shared with KCEN •Posted to Press Center,

YouTube, Facebook

•Multiple tweets and Facebook posts (18-16 JAN)

•Facebook event created

•Phantom Calendar•Reader boards •Marketed by OCPA-SM and

Army.mil and KCEN•Marketed by Facebook

FORT HOOD SENTINELMARKETING PLAN

FORT HOOD SOCIAL MEDIA

FORT HOOD RADIO

FORT HOOD TV

OTHER

Standing watch over Fort Hood since 1942 www.FortHoodSentinel.com

Dutch defense minister visits Hood

Sentinel News Editors

Dutch Defense Minister Hans Hil-len came to Fort Hood last week to meet with his troops training here under the 21st Cavalry Brigade (Air Combat).

He liked what he saw as he met with III Corps and Fort Hood Com-manding General Lt. Gen. Don Campbell Jr., as well as soldiers and airmen from the Royal Netherlands Army’s 12th Air Assault Infantry Bat-talion and the Royal Netherlands Air Force’s 11th Air Mobility Brigade.

“This is well organized training,” Hillen said about the programs at Fort Hood. “It’s good for our mili-tary to have the opportunity to really train as if this is real.”

Dutch troops at Fort Hood said Hillen’s visit reflected their country’s investment on the training here.

“His visit shows the Netherland’s commitment to invest in qual-ity training,” Lt. Col. Emco Jellema, commander, Joint Task Force – Netherlands, said.

Dutch service members have enjoyed a long-standing relationship with the U.S. military. Pilots from the Royal Netherlands Air Force attend their flight training at Fort

Rucker, Ala., and receive follow-up training for tactics, techniques and procedures at Fort Hood.

“The Dutch receive the next level of training,” Maj. Matt Ketchum, executive officer, 21st Cav. Bde., said about when the troops from the Netherlands come to Fort Hood. “They work on advanced tactics, techniques and procedures, air-ground integration and conducting raids.”

About 200 Dutch troops, army and air force, receive training here throughout the year.

Dutch army battalions rotate into the Great Place for five-week cycles that include air and urban assault exercises.

Attack pilots from the RNLAF have been receiving training on the AH-64 Apache helicopter at Fort

See A6

Sentinel News Editor

Since the Army announced cuts to the civilian work-force last year, there have been questions and concerns among those affected. Fort Hood is working to alleviate fears and address concerns.

In the spring, Fort Hood Garrison was informed that their full-time civilian work-force of 1,870 needed to be reduced to 1,700 by the start of fiscal year 2013.

A garrison restructure has meant a reduced table of dis-tribution and allowances.

On Friday, Fort Hood Gar-rison leaders hosted the first two of four scheduled town hall sessions to update those who could or will be affected by the cuts and to answer

questions.The next town hall is sched-

uled for 2:30-3:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Mission Control Training Center., and a final session will be hosted, but is not yet scheduled.

“We are here to inform the garrison workforce about what is going on with the TDA,” Fort Hood Garrison Commander Col. Mark Fre-itag told those assembled at Palmer Theater for the first town hall Friday morning. “This affects everybody here.”

The town hall sessions were scheduled to educate those affected about their options, the garrison commander said.

At Fort Hood, those options have been voluntary programs such as voluntary early retirement authority and voluntary separation incentive program offerings, as well as

grade-to-grade moves within and among the directorates of permanent employees with matching skillsets.

“We are working very hard to make sure we are taking care of our people,” Freitag said. “The garrison operates because people operate.”

Deputy Garrison Com-mander Andy Bird urged those in the workforce to look at the big picture during the realignment process.

“We’ve got to be prudent about what we’re doing,” Bird said.

He presented a 30-minute PowerPoint program that explained the process that led to the reductions, showed how the reductions were hap-pening and where, as well as the way ahead.

See A6

Town hall taking a new approach

Sentinel Editor

III Corps and Fort Hood leaders are tak-ing a groundbreaking approach to a commu-nity town hall event set for Jan. 26. The Fort Hood Facebook and TV Town Hall, which will run from 5-7 p.m. on Jan. 26, com-bines social media, over-the-air television

broadcasts and Internet radio for the first time in an attempt to engage as many com-munity members as possible during the event.

“This effort is unprecedented,” Lt. Gen. Don Campbell Jr., III Corps and Fort Hood commanding general, said. “It’s important

See A6

Standing watch over Fort Hood since 1942 www.FortHoodSentinel.com

Dutch defense minister visits Hood

Sentinel News Editors

Dutch Defense Minister Hans Hil-len came to Fort Hood last week to meet with his troops training here under the 21st Cavalry Brigade (Air Combat).

He liked what he saw as he met with III Corps and Fort Hood Com-manding General Lt. Gen. Don Campbell Jr., as well as soldiers and airmen from the Royal Netherlands Army’s 12th Air Assault Infantry Bat-talion and the Royal Netherlands Air Force’s 11th Air Mobility Brigade.

“This is well organized training,” Hillen said about the programs at Fort Hood. “It’s good for our mili-tary to have the opportunity to really train as if this is real.”

Dutch troops at Fort Hood said Hillen’s visit reflected their country’s investment on the training here.

“His visit shows the Netherland’s commitment to invest in qual-ity training,” Lt. Col. Emco Jellema, commander, Joint Task Force – Netherlands, said.

Dutch service members have enjoyed a long-standing relationship with the U.S. military. Pilots from the Royal Netherlands Air Force attend their flight training at Fort

Rucker, Ala., and receive follow-up training for tactics, techniques and procedures at Fort Hood.

“The Dutch receive the next level of training,” Maj. Matt Ketchum, executive officer, 21st Cav. Bde., said about when the troops from the Netherlands come to Fort Hood. “They work on advanced tactics, techniques and procedures, air-ground integration and conducting raids.”

About 200 Dutch troops, army and air force, receive training here throughout the year.

Dutch army battalions rotate into the Great Place for five-week cycles that include air and urban assault exercises.

Attack pilots from the RNLAF have been receiving training on the AH-64 Apache helicopter at Fort

See A6

Sentinel News Editor

Since the Army announced cuts to the civilian work-force last year, there have been questions and concerns among those affected. Fort Hood is working to alleviate fears and address concerns.

In the spring, Fort Hood Garrison was informed that their full-time civilian work-force of 1,870 needed to be reduced to 1,700 by the start of fiscal year 2013.

A garrison restructure has meant a reduced table of dis-tribution and allowances.

On Friday, Fort Hood Gar-rison leaders hosted the first two of four scheduled town hall sessions to update those who could or will be affected by the cuts and to answer

questions.The next town hall is sched-

uled for 2:30-3:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Mission Control Training Center., and a final session will be hosted, but is not yet scheduled.

“We are here to inform the garrison workforce about what is going on with the TDA,” Fort Hood Garrison Commander Col. Mark Fre-itag told those assembled at Palmer Theater for the first town hall Friday morning. “This affects everybody here.”

The town hall sessions were scheduled to educate those affected about their options, the garrison commander said.

At Fort Hood, those options have been voluntary programs such as voluntary early retirement authority and voluntary separation incentive program offerings, as well as

grade-to-grade moves within and among the directorates of permanent employees with matching skillsets.

“We are working very hard to make sure we are taking care of our people,” Freitag said. “The garrison operates because people operate.”

Deputy Garrison Com-mander Andy Bird urged those in the workforce to look at the big picture during the realignment process.

“We’ve got to be prudent about what we’re doing,” Bird said.

He presented a 30-minute PowerPoint program that explained the process that led to the reductions, showed how the reductions were hap-pening and where, as well as the way ahead.

See A6

Town hall taking a new approach

Sentinel Editor

III Corps and Fort Hood leaders are tak-ing a groundbreaking approach to a commu-nity town hall event set for Jan. 26. The Fort Hood Facebook and TV Town Hall, which will run from 5-7 p.m. on Jan. 26, com-bines social media, over-the-air television

broadcasts and Internet radio for the first time in an attempt to engage as many com-munity members as possible during the event.

“This effort is unprecedented,” Lt. Gen. Don Campbell Jr., III Corps and Fort Hood commanding general, said. “It’s important

See A6

#FortHoodTownHall



13 DEC – Studio Test w/ DVIDS

14 DEC – Operations Order Published

28 DEC – Studio Test w/ DVIDS

06 JAN – Met w/ Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)

10 JAN – Briefed Commander

12 JAN – Production Rehearsal w/ Link to DVIDS

18 JAN – Rehearsal w/ SMEs and Studio Test w/ DVIDS

23 JAN – Full Dress Rehearsal w/ Link to DVIDS

25 JAN – Studio Test w/ DVIDS

26 JAN – Execution

PREPARATIONCONCEPT FLOW



INQUIRY

STAFFED

RESPONSE

EDITED

RE-STAFFED

RESPONSE

EDITED

ANSWER

FACEBOOK PIER - behind the scenes



TOWN HALL QUESTIONSAside from 45 miscellaneous questions, the primary concerns within the community are regarding:

-Safety in off-post housing

-Deteriorating homes

-AM/PM traffic

-Stigma to seek help

-Downsizing

Individuals also used the town hall to seek information about III Corps and Army policies.

COMMUNITY CONCERNS

TOPICS FACEBOOK PHONE TOTALMISC 45 7 52SAFETY 30 0 30HOUSING 29 0 29POLICY 25 1 26DOWNSIZING 17 7 24TRAFFIC 20 1 21BEHAVIORAL HEALTH 17 0 17CRDAMC 16 0 16FAMILY MATTERS 12 0 12DADT 7 1 8PARKING 6 1 7MEB 5 2 7SEXUAL ASSAULT 6 1 7DOG PARK 5 0 5DECALS 2 2 4LEGAL 4 0 4CPAC 3 0 3

TOTALS 248 23 271All questions were answered by Feb. 3, 2012 (within 8 days of the event).



FACEBOOK INSIGHTSFort Hood services a population of more than 350,000 Soldiers, Families, retirees and civilian and contract employees.

Of that 350,000, nearly 100,000 viewed the III Corps and Fort Hood Facebook page Jan. 26.

From that, 2,200 became actively involved, of which more than 1,100 users posted 2,288 interactions.

1,431 people tried to view the live DVIDS webcast through various sites, but on average they left after 6 minutes because the feed wasn’t working.

765 people listened to Fort Hood Radio Jan. 26.

The re-broadcast video and radio town hall has been viewed 1,714 times.

OVERALL PARTICIPATION

DAILY FACEBOOK INSIGHTS 26 JAN 2012 DAILY INCREASETOTAL IMPRESSIONS 552,650 ▲891%TOTAL REACH 99,938 ▲279%ENGAGED USERS 2,203 ▲2388%TALKING ABOUT 1,111 ▲1671%PAGE STORIES 9,978 ▲268%

OTHER INSTALLATIONSPOST INTERACTIONS

HOOD (JAN 12) 2,288MEADE (OCT 11) 800HAWAII (NOV 11) 475BENNING (OCT 11) 350BENNING (JAN 11) 200

As reported on Army.mil

DVIDS LIVE WEBCAST 1,431FORT HOOD RADIO 765

YOU TUBE/DVIDS/FHR 1,714TOTAL 3,910

As of 28 MAR 2012

BROADCAST REACH



SUCCESSES“Thanks for addressing Policy CG-01 dated 20 May 11, titled “The Family First Corps”. I look forward to seeing this policy’s adherence reinforced. This policy is a big morale booster when it is being promoted!” - Dawn Whitley West

“Wonderful Job Everyone this is an awesome thing you all are doing!!! So proud to be a part of the great place!!!! Thank you to everyone involved tonight!!!” - Melissa Hilton Ebbing

“This is wonderful I have to say that Fort Hood’s communication with the community has been Outstanding compared to other bases my husband has been stationed at. Thank You.” - Missey Payne

“Thank you for giving us the opportunity to voice our concerns!” - Heather Monaco

“Great program. Great idea. Great commander. All questions answered Program is much better without the glitches. Keep up the information flow!” - Daniel Kott

COMMUNITY FEEDBACKCRISIS COMMUNICATIONS

Through this town hall, garrison directorates, unit leadership and tenant units are all now trained and registered with PIER.

In the event of a crisis, they are all familiar how to manage queries and communicate through this information emergency response system.

The EOC is now equipped with rolling phone lines that could be answered by a phone bank.

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

The participation the day of the event was overwhelmingly successful. We received positive feedback days following the event, and although some wanted an in-person town hall, as we answered follow-on questions, fans realized this was a two-way dialogue..

MEDIA INTEREST

Media continue to call with story ideas that were generated from town hall questions, allowing us to express the Fort Hood story in even greater detail.

ARMY CASE STUDY

The Department of the Army Social Media Division plans to use this event as a case study to present at commanders’ conferences and to O5/O6 commanders’ classes in Leavenworth.

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY

Fort Hood has bridged the technology gap with PIER, DVIDS and Facebook, merging the three entities for the first time.

All three organizations are supportive of our efforts and excited for future endeavors.

Fort Hood Town Hall Case Study

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