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Social media take flight, refuel shadow

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  • By 434th ARW Public Affairs staff
  • 434th ARW Public Affairs staff
GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. --  Kids make puppets with them, animals take refuge in them, some even chase them, but as media from around Indiana found out, you can do a lot more with a shadow.

Thirteen of Indiana's top social media representatives witnessed firsthand the refueling of a U.S. Navy E-6B Mecury, which went by the call sign "Shadow 20," during a media orientation flight onboard a 434th Air Refueling Wing KC-135R Stratotanker May 5.

The media began their day with briefings concerning Grissom, crisis communication, social media, and the KC-135 before taking off with a crew from the 72nd Air Refueling Squadron.

"I was absolutely blown away by how close the other plane was," said Lorraine Ball, a social media blogger and marketing business owner, in a post on the 434th ARW's fan page on Facebook. "As cool as the flight was, it was the people who made it an exceptional experience."

The 434th ARW has held media orientation flights throughout the years, but recently has set aside a portion of those that focus on new and social media.

"The world has changed a lot with the evolution of social media, and more people are learning first about world events through their Facebook news feeds and Twitter accounts," explained Tech. Sgt. Mark Orders-Woempner, 434th ARW Public Affairs specialist. "Social media posts can also have a much longer dwell than traditional media reports, so more people have the chance to see it whether it be through their social media accounts, through a search engine or just happen to stumble upon it."

The initial feedback from the flight was both immediate and positive.

"Prior to the media flight, coverage included over 40 microblog posts, 20 retweets, one blog post and one video post," said Sergeant Orders-Woempner. "Within 24 hours of the flight there were over 74 additional microblog posts, 2 blog posts and four photo galleries containing well over 100 images."

Many of the social media representatives also saw positive and immediate feedback on their posts.

"I got awesome feedback through Twitter and [Facebook] about the mission," said Nicole Misencik, a meteorologist and reporter with WTHR in Indianapolis and was also named the 2010 Social Media Dame at the Indiana Social Media Summit.

Those wishing to follow the continued coverage of the flight or join in the conversation can do so by searching for the hashtag #GusFlt0511. A hashtag is a unique way to track tweets and other social media posts.

The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command.

Stay connected with the 434th ARW on Facebook and Twitter.

Public Affairs Staff

Material contained on the Official Grissom Air Reserve Base Internet Web Site is written and produced by members of the 434th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office. The award-winning staff includes:

Ben Mota
Chief, public affairs

Maj. Elias Zani
Public affairs officer

Master Sgt. Wendy Day
Staff writer

Tech. Sgt. Alexa Culbert
Staff writer

Senior Airman Elise Faurote
Staff writer

Senior Airman Benjamin Cowles
Staff writer