Effective Military Communication

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Effective Military Communication
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Communication The exchange of thoughts,
messages, or information, as by speech, signals,
or writing
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A woman wearing what looks like a construction
workers clothes and carrying a putty knife, was
standing next to a black man in a 500 suit while
riding a bus. They were talking in very loud
voices. They were both next to a woman talking
to a man with a baby in his lap. The red bus
passed a yellow car before stopping in front of a
school. The black man got off the bus.
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Barriers to Communication

• Physical Barriers
• Cultural Barriers
• Language Differences
• Format Errors
• Grammar and Spelling Mistakes

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Military Writing
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Effective Army writing transmits a clear message
in a single, rapid reading, and is generally free
of errors in grammar, mechanics, and usage.

• AR 25-50 Preparing and Managing
  Correspondence
• DA PAM 600-67 Effective Writing for Army
  Leaders

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Seven Rules of the Army Writing Style

• Rule 1 Put your main point up front (BLUF)
• Rule 2 Write short paragraphs. No more than
  one inch deep or six lines long
• Rule 3 Write short staff papers (one to two
  pages long)
• Rule 4 Use active voice
• Rule 5 Use short, conventional words
• Rule 6 Write short sentences (about 15 words
  average)
• Rule 7 Be correct, be credible, be complete

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ACTIVE/PASSIVE VOICE
ACTIVE - The subject of the sentence names the
actor ACTIVE DOER --- VERB ---
RECEIVER All qualifiers will zero their weapons
before qualification. PASSIVE - The subject of
the sentence names the receiver of the action.
PASSIVE RECEIVER ---VERB ---
DOER All weapons will be zeroed before
qualification.
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ACTIVE VOICE IS MORE EFFECTIVE BECAUSE
It is a stronger form of expression because it
indicates the agent and shows the action. It
states the action in fewer words. It prevents
confusion about the actor. Use of I and We
the first person takes responsibility for the
action.
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DISADVANTAGES OF USING PASSIVE VOICE
Leaves critical information unstated Evades
responsibility Increases length
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HOW TO RECOGNIZE THE PASSIVE VOICE
PAST PARTICIPLE ENDING IN ED OR
EN GIVEN TAKEN IMPLEMENTED CONDUTED ORDERED
BE AM IS ARE WAS WERE BEING BEEN
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HOW TO CORRECT PASSIVE VOICE
Put the doer before the verb. Appropriate
clothing will BE WORN by all personnel. All
personnel will wear appropriate clothing.
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HOW TO CORRECT PASSIVE VOICE
Drop part of the verb. The soldier WAS
TRANSFERRED to Ft Bragg. He transferred to Ft
Bragg.
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HOW TO CORRECT PASSIVE VOICE
Change the verb. Personnel ARE PROHIBITED from
smoking during refueling operations. Personnel
must not smoke during refueling.
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Military Briefs
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Different Types of Briefs

• Information
• Decision
• Mission
• Staff

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Step 1Research The Topic (1 of 2)

• Obtain All Available Information
• Write Detailed Notes
• Organize Your Notes
• Determine the Purpose of Your Briefing

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Step 1Research The Topic (2 of 2)

• Determine the Role of the Briefer
• Determine Who the Audience Is
• Determine the Setting
• Determine the Time Constraints

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Step 2Plan the Briefing

• Refine Your Thesis Statement
• Plan Your Major Parts
• Sort the Major Parts
• Write a Draft Introduction
• Write a Draft Conclusion

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Step 3Deliver the Practice Briefing

• Rehearse
• Rehearse
• Rehearse

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Step 4Revise the Briefing

• Focus on Your Audiences Perspective
• Validate Your Introduction
• Validate the Body of Your Introduction
• Validate Your Conclusion
• Review Your Style
• Revise As Necessary

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Step 5Deliver the Final Briefing

• Be Prepared to Handle Audio-Visuals
• Develop a Method of Answering Questions
• Be Prepared to Handle any Problems Which May
  Arise During Your Briefing

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Information Brief

1. Introduction Slide
2. Purpose Slide
3. Outline Slide
4. Main Point Slides
5. Summary Slide
6. Conclusion Slide

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Information Brief
INTRODUCTION
Information Brief Title Briefers Name
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Information Brief
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Information Brief
PURPOSE
To inform COL about..

• Clearly state the purpose of your brief.
• If your slide is done right, it can speak for
  itself.
• As a general rule dont read the slides,
  however, you must ensure the audience knows the
  purpose of your brief.

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Information Brief
OUTLINE
Main Point 1 Main Point 2 Main Point
3.etc.. Summary Questions Conclusions
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Information Brief
MAIN POINT

• Start with your first supporting point. It
  should coincide with the first main point you
  showed on your outline.
• Use bullets to highlight.
• Focus slide content to complement your
  briefing.
• Dont overcrowd your slide. Use no more than 5
  7 lines.
• Dont forget to transition to the next slide.
  Develop deliberate transitions to help your
  audience stay on track with you. Simple example
  is Now that Ive told you aboutlet me show
  you.

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Information Brief
SUMMARY
Main Point 1 Main Point 2 Main Point 3 Etc.

• Summarize the major points of the briefing
  then ask for questions.
• Ensure that the audience knows that you welcome
  their questions.

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Information Brief
Conclusion

• Be Brief, Be Clear, Be Gone
• You must conclude. Conclusions may be verbal.
  Some of the best are.
• You may have a conclusion slide. This could be
  your most important slide its what you want
  your audience to remember about your brief.
• This could be a famous or not-so-famous quote
  or maybe even the bottom line of your brief.

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History of the 82nd Airborne

• Formed Aug. 25th 1917 at Camp Gordon, GA.
  Nicknamed All Americans
• 1918- Deployed to France against German Imperial
  Army in WWI
• Demobilized after WWI, then reactivated in during
  WWII
• 1942- 82nd Infantry Div. became the 1st Airborne
  Div. in the US Army redesignated 82nd Airborne
  Div.
• 1943- Sicily Salerno, Italy

• 1944- Operation NEPTUNE airborne invasion of
  Normandy
• Operation OVERLORD (D-Day) assault on
  Nazi-occupied France
• Operation MARKET-GARDEN Holland
• 1983- Operation URGENT FURY deployed to
  Caribbean
• Operation JUST CAUSE Panama
• 1991- Operation DESERT STORM Iraq
• 1993- Jumped out of planes many times and got
  into lots of bar fights down in Fayetteville, NC
• 1995- Crazy soldier opened fire on PT formation
  at O-dark thirty. Had the snot beat out of him
  by some SF soldiers looking for cover
• 1996- Bragged about how great they are, went
  downtown and got drunk
• 2002- Pounded some Taliban loosers into the
  nasty dirt
• 2003- Chilled out while 3rd ID kicked some ass
  and then went into Iraq after the shooting
  stopped

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History of the 82nd Airborne

• Formed Aug. 25th 1917 at Camp Gordon, GA.
  Nicknamed All Americans
• 1918- Deployed to France against German Imperial
  Army in WWI
• Demobilized after WWI, then reactivated in during
  WWII
• 1942- 82nd Infantry Div. became the 1st Airborne
  Div. in the US Army redesignated 82nd Airborne
  Div.
• 1943- Sicily Salerno, Italy

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Histry of the 82nd Airborn

• Formed Aug. 25th 1817 at Camp Gordon, GA.
  Nicknamed All Americans. Then they spend some
  RR and hung out by the PX, pulled CQ or SDO
  waiting for the CG do do a CIP.
• 1918- Deployed to Germany against Frances
  Imperial Army in WWI
• Demobilized after WWIII, then reactivated in
  during WWII
• 1942 - 83nd Infantry Div. became the 1st Airborne
  Div. in the US Army redesignated 82nd Airborne
  Div. They are hella-cool!!

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Information Brief
Equipment / Weapons Systems

• M1 Abrams Tank
• M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle
• M113 Armored Personnel Carrier

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Information Brief
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Briefing Content

• What is the Branch you are briefing
• What is their function (What they do)
• Where do they train (What Army Post)
• What does the training consist of
• What types of specific equipment do they use
• What would a 2LT do in that Branch
• Would you want to be assigned to this Branch