The article discusses the power of social media posts to connect and support military communities. A photo posted on Facebook of an infant holding a sign welcoming their returning parent from deployment received over 900 likes and 350 shares. The comments on the post showed the impact it had on families experiencing long separations due to deployment. The Joint Services Support directorate aims to use the reach of their social media to better serve and support military members and their families through programs and by sharing inspirational and helpful posts.

1. JOINT SERVICES SUPPORT, J9 DIRECTORATE
The POWER OF A POST
By Gary Lott
A post or Facebook news feed profile update can be a very powerful thing. With the ability to motivate, intrigue,
inform, entertain and communicate, these Facebook posts can be very important to our everyday lives.
Recently JSSWA featured a photo of an infant holding a sign for a returning deployed parent stating, “I’ve been waiting
my whole life to meet you!”
This Photo of the Day Facebook post received over 900 likes, over 350
shares and numerous powerful comments like, “My mother went through
birth without her husband at her side...and he did not and could not
return to her until I was over 2 years old... let’s all THANK A VET and
THANK THEIR SPOUSES...they don't get near enough credit for what
they go through while their soldier is gone. “
Another comment that stood out came from a new mother,
“I just went thru this...my daughter just met her dad last week and she is
nine months old...this sign brought tears to my eyes...’’
These and other comments proved to us the power of a post in reaching
the military community we serve.
The JSS is glad to have your support and will strive to use that power to
better serve our military community and continue to provide so many
great programs for them.
The JSS is proud to provide military supporting services like Family
Programs, Youth Programs, Suicide and Sexual Assault Prevention, Yel-
low Ribbon Deployment, Employment Transition Services and Wounded
Warrior Programs.
Job fairs, military deals, resume building classes, family retreats, youth retreats, awards ceremonies, inspiring photos,
community happenings and videos are just some of the powerful post that Joint Services Support Washington’s
Facebook page shares with the world on a consistent and constant basis.
This ability to share, with other military and non-military members, new and old ways to better assist our servicemen
and women through social media is a pleasure.
Being able to improve and positively affect the JSS’s audience through a post is a power we don’t take likely.
This article is being presented by the WA National Guard Joint Services Support Directorate
benefiting Soldiers, Airmen, Veterans and their Families.