Creating a Useful and Pleasing State Defense Force Website

摘要

Some State Defense Force (SDF) brigades still do not have web sites, while others that do have sites that are poorly maintained. It would behoove all SDF brigades to keep their web pages relatively professional in appearance and up-to-date. Professional-looking web sites would improve public perception of SDFs in addition to avoiding the appearance of 'warrior wannabees,' as described in a 2003 USA Today article. There are a few SDF brigade web sites that stand out above the rest, including California, Maryland, Indiana, Alaska, and, one of the best, Georgia, which not only has a great-looking web site, but posts excellent material on it. The top 5 web sites mentioned here meet several critical criteria that include modern appearance, current content, ease of use, and creativity. Many SDF brigades trying to maintain a web site may not have the in-house expertise or resources to do a professional job. However, if a SDF brigade is planning to start a web site or is presently maintaining a site, this article presents some information that should be helpful. The first recommended course of action for any web site administrator is to regularly evaluate the unit's current needs for the web site. The author recommends courses of action for administrators who want to make the web site an information repository for the unit's personnel, a public relations tool, or a recruiting tool. Web pages should be continually updated with news, articles, photos, and current forms. If the content is not kept up-to-date, the site will become an unused relic of the past. The author presents recommendations too make the web site pleasing to the eye and organized in such a way as to make it easy for the visitor to find information. With regard to Web Master assignments, it is best to appoint at least two people who can make changes to the web site content. That way the web site is not dependent on one person in case of an emergency, a separation, or just general workload issues.