For many people, the interesting life stories are those about someone else. Oftentimes they don't realize that to others, they are the someone else.
For more than 40 years, the military services have publicized the achievements of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and civilians, in their hometown news media.
"The Hometown News program provides our military members and civilians with a self-help means of sharing news about their promotions, awards and other accomplishments with their families and friends," said Art Forster, Army Contracting Command Director of Public and Congressional Affairs.
The Joint Hometown News Center, part of the Defense Media Activity, supports Army and Air Force uniformed and civilian personnel.
From their Fort Meade, Md., headquarters the JHTNC uses the information provided by individuals on hometown news release forms to prepare news articles that are distributed to local newspapers, radio and television stations. Center personnel also compile holiday greeting videos that are broadcast by local television stations.
The Navy's Fleet Hometown News Center in Norfolk, Va., provides similar support to Sailors and Marines. These military and civilian staffs produce a variety of print and electronic news products highlighting the accomplishments and worldwide activities of individual members of the U.S. armed forces.
Each year more than 500,000 individual news releases are distributed to the 14,000 newspapers, television and radio stations that subscribe to the centers' free service.
The criteria for completing a HTNR form vary from promotions to exercise participation to retirements. If you've had a recent achievement and want the people back home to know about it, complete a HTNR form and let the DMA team do the rest.
For more information on the program go to http://jhns.dma.mil/.
Social Sharing