Being in the military, communication is such a big deal, and we must affectively communicate and understand one another when things were to go in the worse way. But due to covid, we cannot do too much of hands-on exercises, so we usually communicate via online. It’s a new day and age and this is our new norm until things get better
When it comes to communicating effectively and if it’s easier online than face to face, I must say it was an easy transition for me but harder for others. In any branch, everyone is used to some hand-on-hand training and learning how to communicate with others in person, but this virtual learning is quite a change. We learn code words, hand and arm signals and learn to read lips and body language in order to communicate effectively. For those reservists that usually come in once a month for this type of training, their command has worked day and night to make it work virtually so we can know our job, retrain to better our skills, and learn new things on the way.
Online communication is quite different but if we work hard enough, it’s quite the same. The good thing about us virtual learning with us is that we make it seem that we are all with one another learning. As in we conduct exercises, and they will make you all participate different ways through virtual learning. For example, we had a worldwide base exercise but via online that everyone was petrified it wouldn’t work. This is something we do once a year but obviously in person. The exercise went pretty well because we had to deal with every unit (career field) to work on a certain issue. This issue was an unauthorized aircraft that landed, and we all had to communicate and work together to successfully figure out why it landed on our flight line and handle it accordingly. In this case, it was a terrorist with intentions of hurting those on base.
We all did very well communicate with one another through virtual communication and it was a very intense but great learning experiences for everyone. Communication goes a long way through in person and online. We just all have to find a common ground and understand one another effectively.
Gruman, J. A., Schneider, F. W., & Coutts, L. M. (2017). Applied Social Psychology; Understanding and Addressing Social and Practical Problems. Los Angeles: SAGE Publications, Inc
This post is very interesting. In all honesty, I was not aware that even the military was changing their communication to online instead of face-to-face. I can see that this could be both beneficial and hindering. It’s great that you said that you were able to smoothly transition to online communications, but was this very difficult for older members who may not be so advanced with technology? I also feel as though the unpredictable nature of technology may be risky with carrying out every day communications in the military. Also, if you have been in the military for some time now, how is your sense of membership within it differing ever since Covid-19? I feel like it may be more difficult to build bonds will fellow soldiers. I think it is crucial we still upkeep with face-to-face communication in order to promote sense of membership in our communities. Overall, nice post. I wish you the best!
References:
Gruman, J. A., Schneider, F. W., & Coutts, L. M. (2017). Applied Social Psychology; Understanding and Addressing Social and Practical Problems. Los Angeles: SAGE Publications, Inc