[Infowarrior] - USN loves blogs!

[Richard Forno]

Navy Hearts Blogs

By David Axe EmailApril 15, 2008 | 12:00:00 PMCategories: Info War

http://blog.wired.com/defense/2008/04/navy-hearts-blo.html

It's no accident that of all the military services, the Navy's got one of
the best unofficial blogs: The Destroyermen, edited by an officer aboard the
USS Russell (which was a back-up ship in the notorious satellite shoot two
months ago). In stark contrast to the Air Force's cyberspace clamp-down and
the Coast Guard's shady 'net dealings, Navy policy explicitly encourages
blogging. A DR reader sends us this regulation:

>From SECNAVINST 5720.47B: (pdf!)

a. DON commands may not operate unmoderated news groups, bulletin boards, or
any other unrestricted access posting services. This specifically prohibits
a publicly accessible, interactive site that supports automatic posting of
information submitted by personnel other than those authorized by the
command to post information. Some Web logs (blogs) may fall into this
category. This does not, however, prohibit the command from posting frequent
messages from the commanding officer or messages from the command¹s
constituents. There is also no prohibition on blogs operated by individual
members as private citizens. The DON recognizes the value of this
communication channel in posting current information and supporting the
morale of personnel, their family and friends. As long as personnel adhere
to specific restrictions on content, the DON encourages the use of blogs and
recognizes this free flow of information contributes to legitimate
transparency of the DON to the American public whom we serve.