The C-Clamp is a tool you use to hold two pieces of wood together. The A-List is a group of people who think they are better than you are. And the D-Ring is where the military and new media collide.
The D-Ring is maintained by Steve Field, a former Army civilian and spokesman at the Pentagon. The blog derives its name from the location of his former office, in the second-to-outermost corridor at the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense. In his posts, Steve will look at the military community — Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy and Coast Guard — as well as defense contractors, military bloggers and those on the “outside” to see how they are navigating (or mis-navigating) through the new media environment.
Steve is an employee at BAE Systems, but this blog is his own. All of the thoughts, ideas and opinions expressed here belong to him and no one else. He currently lives in Washington, DC, and is an avid fan of Chipotle burritos.
Greetings!
I came across your blog today and did some reading. Your posts concerning Iraq caught my eye.
Our team is part of Central Command Public Affairs and has been reaching out to many of you in the electronic media world. As military PA reps our duty is to inform the U.S. public of what we’re doing militarily. As the public turns to the Internet and the blogosphere as a news source, we have to do our best to find ways of getting information to the public via these avenues.
With that said, would you like to be on our mailing list? We send out via email press releases and news stories. Many times we can get this information out to the blogs before it becomes available via the main stream media outlets. We also have two newsletters, CENTCOM News and the Coalition Bulletin, that tell more of what our forces are doing.
Also, if you feel it appropriate, we’re always looking to get links to our web site on blogs that are read by people who might be interested in our site. If that would be a good fit for your blog then we would love to have a link.
Thanks for your time today and I hope to hear back from you.
I hate to be disrespectful to Specialist Erickson, but his post above demonstrates everything that I expected would be wrong with DoD’s venture into “new media” as part of the formal PA world. I’ve been reading about you and your blog for approximately 95 seconds and I already know enough about you that I cringe on his behalf, for his having preached in such a silly fashion to the choir.
Bella Parola,
In Spc. Erickson’s defense, this is a very polite note, and it’s gramatically and typographically correct. Sure, it’s a form letter, but Spc. Erickson probably has a lot of ground to cover. The one false note is “I came across your blog today,” which probably should have been, “Because of your interest and experience with the media and military matters, I would like to let you know about…”
I know that Mr. Field thought this was spammy, but CENTCOM is doing the smart thing by starting relationships in the blogosphere.
Mr. Field, I liked your Josh Manchester interview.
Timothy,
Thanks for the comment (and please, it’s Steve, not Mr. Field).
I completely agree with your point about the wording appearing spammy moreso than the content of what CENTCOM was offering. And I agree as well that they are smart to engage the blogosphere. My point was that everyone in this space is learning how to do it better and I was offering my advice.
Glad you liked the interview as well. If you have any recommendations on who you would like to get put Through the Ringer, drop me an e-mail.
Thanks for reading and look forward to hearing more from you.
Steve
Steve,
Thanks. True, we’re all learning as we go.
For a future Through the Ringer feature, how about Jeffrey Lewis and Jane Vaynman at Arms Control Wonk? Here’s their About page:
Regards,
Timothy
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Thank you.
I just found your site today and find it informative. Keep up the good work.
Steve!!
It is so good to see you out there – and boy is it a small world!
A girlfriend of mine from AFN, who has been following some blogging of Chris Eder’s e-mailed me because she wanted me to see the dialog she was getting into with him on his blog. She also mentioned something about “checking out the affiliation with D-ring… those guys have some harsh words about the Worldwide” – or something to that effect. Next thing I knew – I was here!
I had heard you were out in the real world blogging – had left the madness of the D-ring behind… and although I know Laura & co. miss you terribly, because you really were an asset to the team, I’m thrilled for you!
I’m back with the Army – at the Corps of Engineers HQ and I LOVE IT! This is such a good fit for me. It’s so easy to be passionate about the Corps – not so much with the choo-choo’s. 🙂
I’ve saved you to my favorites, now that I know where you are – and I will certainly begin to get my toes wet in the wide world of social media!
Cheers!
Steve-
It’s good to see you’re still working your PA chops. I can’t wait to get back to Robert, BG Eder and the E-Ring, but it’s good to read what you have to offer here. Keep up the good work.
-Brad
Steve,
The job at Edelman, your work at the Pentagon, this blog…all reasons for admiring you and feeling very happy for your accomplishments. But the thing that makes me the MOST proud to know you is your coming out on CNN!
HUGE chops to you for laying it out there and allowing your story to be told. I only wish you could use some of your influence to help those who are still closeted inside that five-sided building!
Don’t know if you’ve heard, but I’m now the CI Chief at AFN Korea. Drop me a line sometime and keep up the good work!
maryd
Hi Steve!
Today has been really helpfun in my P.R. training. Just wanted to drop you a note to say thanks for leading the best group ever! Go TAN!
Check out my website, its something I started up the site need some help though!
Keep in touch!
Lacie
🙂
Where are you? What happened to the blog?
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