SAN ANTONIO (April 8, 2015) -- Operation Megaphone, led by the Joint Service Teen Council, will connect teens, from all military branches worldwide, for one 24-hour period, April 24-25. Teens are encouraged to discuss key issues that affect military teens, promote communication across all military services, and seek out opportunities to volunteer in their communities.
This year's theme is "Teens Lead the Way." The theme highlights the importance of teens in leadership roles.
"Teens should be placed in as many leadership roles as possible within youth programs," said Bryson Alleyne, Army Teen Panel junior advisor. "Ideally, if we are trying to attract teens, Operation Megaphone needs to be youth-directed and staff supervised."
Military garrisons will host events at the local level. Teens will be involved in service projects to benefit children of their community or region. Service projects range from tutoring children to sending letters to a local children's hospital to collecting resources for a local youth homeless shelter.
In addition to service projects, teens will also engage in social activities. In previous years, teens participated in overnight lock-ins, campouts, and local conferences.
Events are planned based on the local interests and resources of each garrison.
"Each Operation Megaphone event will ultimately end up being a little different," said Chett Kline, youth specialist at the Air Force Services Activity. "This is due to each installation or garrison's unique local resources, event participants, and the local policies that guide the implementation of special events."
Operation Megaphone connects all participants through virtual interaction. Utilizing social media platforms and online meeting software, teens will be able to interact with teens at other locations.
"The Millennial generation has grown up in a digital world," said Brent Edwards, programs coordinator at Navy child and youth programs. "The internet, social networking, and cell phones are powerful tools that can help today's youth communicate, network and retrieve information."
Since 2012, more than 9,360 youth and teens participated in 261 Operation Megaphone events located at military youth facilities worldwide.
Related Links:
Operation Megaphone on Facebook
Social Sharing