Fort Hood hosts Army's first multimedia town hall

By Heather Graham-Ashley, III Corps and Fort Hood Public AffairsJanuary 31, 2012

Reviewing Facebook
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Gen. Don Campbell Jr., III Corps and Fort Hood commanding general, looks at the installation's Facebook page in the Garrison Command operation center with Christie Vanover, command information chief, during the Fort Hood Facebook and TV Town Hall... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Facebook screen shot
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The first of hundreds of questions for the Fort Hood Facebook and TV Town Hall posted just prior to the 5 p.m. start time at Fort Hood, Texas, Jan. 26, 2012. The event drew more than 400 questions over a two hour period. The first hour was hosted sol... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Studio discussion
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Mark Freitag, (left) Fort Hood garrison commander, discusses potential questions with Fort Hood and III Corps Commanding General Lt. Gen. Don Campbell Jr., prior to an hour-long televised town hall from the Phantom Warrior Studio within the corp... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Viewing Facebook feed
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – III Corps and Fort Hood Commanding General Lt. Gen. Don Campbell Jr. (right) and Fort Hood Garrison Commander Col. Mark Freitag look at the Fort Hood Town Hall Facebook feed Jan. 26, 2012, as they prepare for the TV boradcast portion of the multimedi... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Hood Town Hall
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – III Corps and Fort Hood Commanding General Lt. Gen. Don Campbell Jr. speaks with members of the III Corps and Fort Hood Public Affairs office manning the phone center prior to the broadcast portion of the Fort Hood Facebook and TV Town Hall at Fort H... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT HOOD, Texas (Jan. 29, 2012) -- Medical care, infrastructure and housing were the top areas of concern during III Corps and Fort Hood's Facebook and TV Town Hall event here, Jan. 26.

III Corps and Fort Hood Commanding General Lt. Gen. Don Campbell Jr. said before the town hall began that he was anticipating some difficult questions.

"I really believe it's important and we need to listen to them (community members)," Campbell said. "I'm not afraid of tough questions."

AN ARMY FIRST

The town hall's multimedia format, utilizing social media via Facebook, a live television broadcast and simultaneously broadcasting the audio portion on the installation's Web-based radio station was a first, not only for Fort Hood, but also for the Army.

Other installations have hosted town hall meetings on Facebook, and Fort Hood has previously hosted numerous TV town halls.

The two-hour event, the second hour of which was to be televised and available at www.FortHoodRadio.com, elicited more than 400 questions on Facebook and dozens of phone calls.

Technical difficulties at the Defense Video and Imagery Distribution System's hub in Atlanta plagued the live television broadcast, though the audio portion was available at Fort Hood Radio.

"We were pushing a variety of capabilities Thursday and some fell through despite repetitive pre-testing," Christie Vanover, chief of Command Information in the III Corps and Fort Hood Public Affairs Office, said. "Both the glitches and the tremendous successes will be documented, so that the next town hall is even more effective for the community."

The III Corps and Fort Hood Public Affairs Office posted the broadcast in its entirety on the III Corps and Fort Hood Facebook page Jan. 27.

Campbell, joined by Garrison Commander Col. Mark Freitag, Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center Commander Col. Patrick Sargent and Marvin Williams, director of property management for Fort Hood Family Housing, responded to about 25 questions during the hour-long broadcast portion of the event.

Behind the scenes, more than 100 Fort Hood leaders, directors and subject matter experts from units, directorates and agencies across Fort Hood reviewed and worked responses to the more than 400 community queries.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

The program led with a question from a Soldier asking about intimidation from leadership to dissuade troops from seeking behavioral health services.

Noting the "tremendous" behavioral health resources available at the installation, Campbell said he talks to leaders every day about fighting the stigma and asking Soldiers to step forward and seek help.

"Intimidation and hazing have no place in our Army, in particular when it regards behavioral health," the general said. "Behavioral health is a serious and important issue in the Army that we have to take seriously."

Sargent emphasized the variety of behavioral health resources available on the installation and on the network. The key, he said, is seeking that help.

"What I'm mostly concerned with is Soldiers who choose not to come (for help)," Sargent said. "If they come forward and receive help, I believe we can get them back into the fight and make them a productive Soldier in our Army."

INFRASTRUCTURE

Traffic congestion and blocked access points were hot issues for Soldiers and family members during the town hall. During peak times, access control points onto the installation are clogged with traffic, making it difficult to report to work on time, get children to school and access services, according to many town hall participants on Facebook.

The post's recent blocking off of additional access points in several housing villages only added to the traffic issues, many residents said.

"Historically, traffic has been a problem," Campbell said. "We will address it."

The general said as deployments slow and more troops return home, the traffic issues could get worse, but added that he will look into the traffic flow issue and see where adjustments could be made. In the meantime, he recommended Soldiers use the facilities and amenities on the installation to avoid the roads off the installation at peak times and utilize the post's 17 access control points.

HOUSING

The need for renovations in older housing, as well as safety and security worries in non-contiguous housing areas, were close behind the traffic concerns.

Many Facebook participants cited issues about mold, tile flooring and the imbalance of handing over their recently increased basic allowance for housing when that housing has not improved.

Williams said he has reviewed the replacements and renovations at four housing areas -- Chaffee, Montague, McNair and Pershing Park, and will conduct ongoing reviews in other housing areas to improve and update quarters.

OTHER CONCERNS

A look at the corps' Facebook page shows that troop and civilian work force reductions, benefits to non-traditional family members, tightened retention standards and questions about child care and other support services weighed heavily on the minds of many at Fort Hood.

Campbell and his panel of experts continue to work to address each and every question and concern.

"We will provide answers to every question we receive on Facebook and from those that call in," the general said.

GETTING ANSWERS

Heading into the weekend following the Thursday night event, installation officials were still working to ensure every query received a response.

"Because of the tremendous response from the community, and because we want to provide thorough answers, it is taking us a little while to work through all the questions, but we will continue answering them all," Vanover said. "The participation from our Soldiers and their Families was fantastic. They really care about helping us to make the Great Place greater."

WAY AHEAD

Campbell was pleased with the multimedia format of the town hall.

"I believe this is the way to go," he said. "We'll continue to build on this and grow. I don't want to only do this once a year."

The general said the town hall format gave Fort Hood Soldiers, families and civilians a comfortable environment to ask their questions, voice concerns and share challenges in an open forum.

"The Army, as a whole, needs to learn what Soldiers and their families are saying," Campbell said. "We all face the same challenges down the road."

Related Links:

Town hall to take new approach with social media integration

Download the TV Town Hall from DVIDS

Follow Fort Hood on Facebook

Fort Hood on Flickr

Fort Hood Radio

Fort Hood Sentinel

III Corps and Fort Hood

U.S. Army Social Media Handbook 2011

Watch the Town Hall on YouTube