DEPLOYED MARITIME CIVIL AFFAIRS TEAM USES FACEBOOK TO FURTHER MISSION

DJIBOUTI, Oct. 20 -- The U.S. Navy issued the following press release:

By Lt. Matt Gill, Maritime Civil Affairs and Security Training Command Public Affairs

The Navy's Maritime Civil Affairs Team (MCAT) 104 is using Facebook while deployed to help tell the story of what they are doing in the Horn of Africa to improve relationships with nations vital to U.S. interests.

"Our MCATs in the field serve as the liaison between the operational commander, U.S. country team, host nation military and civilian entities and other key players to enhance the collaboration of defense, diplomacy and development," said Capt. Claudia Risner, commanding officer, Maritime Civil Affairs and Security Training Command. "Their focus is on the civilian populace and how to align the efforts of all these different groups to meet the needs of the local population. That's ultimately the key audience for any military or diplomatic civil affairs effort."

Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Jon McMillan's MCAT 104's Facebook page gathers "fans" and followers daily.

"When we're meeting people in the different countries we've worked in, it's helpful for us to point them in the direction of our Facebook page because it shows them what we've doing in Africa and it gives them a better sense of who we are," said McMillan. "It's one thing to tell people what you do and why you're in their country and it's another thing for them to see an online history of what we've been doing."

MCAT 104 is in the Horn of Africa to support the Operation Enduring Freedom missions of the Combined Joint Task Force. "Our role is to support the commander through an understanding of the complex socio-cultural [and] civil-military relationships in the countries we're assigned," said Lt. Darren Denyer, MCAT 104 team leader.

MCAT 104's Facebook page has been an important tool in maintaining these relationships. "We've worked in Djibouti, Rwanda and Uganda for shorter periods of time," said McMillan. "That means we've had to maximize the relationships we've started building and Facebook is one way we've done that."

"The MCAT 104 Facebook page helps the team keep families and friends updated on what we're doing," said McMillan, but, since its inception, it has grown into something more. "Maintaining our Facebook page is an important part of our mission. It adds a level of transparency to what we are doing and that makes our job easier."

Internet connectivity can be a challenge at times, but for the most part keeping the page updated is relatively quick and easy, said Denyer.

"The most time-consuming aspect is selecting and posting our photo albums," said McMillan, "but the feedback we've been getting on our albums makes every hour spent on it well worth the effort."

"It's critical for our Sailors to leverage all the available communication tools," said Risner. "They're on the front lines of American engagement, and the capability provided by social media gives them an excellent means of making that diplomacy effective."

For more news from MCAT 104, visit www.facebook.com/pages/Djibouti/Maritime-Civil-Affairs-Team-104/111420992320?ref=nf.

For more news from MCAST, visit www.facebook.com/pages/Maritime-Civil-Affairs-and-Security-Training-MCAST-Command/165833618708?ref=nf and www.twitter.com/navycivaffairs.For more information please contact: Sarabjit Jagirdar, Email:- htsyndication@hindustantimes.com.