Effective Military Communication

Communication: The exchange of thoughts, messages, or information, as by speech, signals, or writing

A woman wearing what looks like a construction worker’s 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.

• Physical Barriers

• Cultural Barriers

• Language Differences

• Format Errors

• Grammar and Spelling Mistakes

Barriers to Communication

Military Writing

“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

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

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.

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.

DISADVANTAGES OF USING PASSIVE VOICE

Leaves critical information unstated

Evades responsibility

Increases length

HOW TO RECOGNIZE THE PASSIVE VOICE

BEAMISAREWASWEREBEINGBEEN

PAST PARTICIPLEENDING IN –ED OR –EN

GIVENTAKENIMPLEMENTEDCONDUTED ORDERED

HOW TO CORRECTPASSIVE VOICE

Put the doer before the verb.

Appropriate clothing will BE WORN by all personnel.

All personnel will wear appropriate clothing.

Drop part of the verb.

The soldier WAS TRANSFERRED to Ft Bragg.

He transferred to Ft Bragg.

HOW TO CORRECTPASSIVE VOICE

Change the verb.

Personnel ARE PROHIBITED from smoking during refueling operations.

Personnel must not smoke during refueling.

HOW TO CORRECTPASSIVE VOICE

Military Briefs

Different Types of Briefs

• Information• Decision• Mission• Staff

Step 1:Research The Topic (1 of 2)

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

Briefing

Step 1:Research The Topic (2 of 2)

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

Step 2:Plan the Briefing

• Refine Your Thesis Statement

• Plan Your Major Parts

• Sort the Major Parts

• Write a Draft Introduction

• Write a Draft Conclusion

Step 3:Deliver the Practice Briefing

Rehearse

Rehearse

Rehearse

Step 4:Revise the Briefing

• Focus on Your Audience’s Perspective

• Validate Your Introduction

• Validate the Body of Your Introduction

• Validate Your Conclusion

• Review Your Style

• Revise As Necessary

Step 5:Deliver 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

Information Brief

1. Introduction Slide

2. Purpose Slide

3. Outline Slide

4. Main Point Slides

5. Summary Slide

6. Conclusion Slide

Information Brief

INTRODUCTION

Information Brief Title

Briefer’s Name

Information Brief

52nd Infantry Division (Mechanized)

UNCLASSIFIED

CPT Hennessey

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 don’t read the slides, however, you must ensure the audience knows the purpose of your brief.

Information Brief

OUTLINE

Main Point #1Main Point #2Main Point #3…….etc..SummaryQuestionsConclusions

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.

• Don’t overcrowd your slide. Use no more than 5 – 7 lines.

• Don’t forget to transition to the next slide. Develop deliberate transitions to help your audience stay on track with you. Simple example is – “Now that I’ve told you about……let me show you….”

Information Brief

SUMMARY

Main Point #1Main Point #2Main Point #3Etc….

• Summarize the major points of the briefing; then ask for questions.

• Ensure that the audience knows that you welcome their questions.

Information Brief

• 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 – it’s 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.

Conclusion

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

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

Histry of the 82nd Airborn

• Fromed Aug. 25th 1817 at Camp Gordon, GA. Nicknamed “All Americans”. Then they spend some R&R and hung out by the PX, pulled CQ or SDO waiting for the CG do do a CIP.

• 1918- Deployed to Germany against France’s 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!!

Information Brief

Equipment / Weapons Systems

• M1 Abrams Tank

• M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle

• M113 Armored Personnel Carrier

Information Brief

Equipment / Weapon SystemsEquipment / Weapon Systems

M1A1 Abrams Tank

M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle

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