While we touched on this a little in the About page, I thought I’d expand on the concept and explain how you can get the most out of the Bugle Notes conversation.

Social Media is not a gimmick. It’s not a pointless time sink. Well, Ok, in some circles it has certainly degenerated to that and it’s easy to see where some of the apprehension comes from. Where does Bugle Notes fit into all of this? One look at this Social media Landscape diagram and your mind spins. Some of these platforms are competing. Some don’t overlap at all. All have a role in one thing: connecting people. At this point you probably have one or more email accounts, maybe a Facebook account, your favorite list of web sites to surf, and perhaps a little text messaging on your cell phone in the 5 minutes you have left in your day. Believe me.. there’s plenty of room for Bugle Notes in your life. (more…)

Bugle Notes is pretty simple and intuitive, but in case you got a lot of RTP’s on your WPR’s in Plebe Math, here are a few TIPS to square you away. Bugle Notes is built around one central concept: engagement. It’s all about sharing ideas, interesting stories and debate among grads and cadets. Understand a few simple concepts and you’re cooking with gas.

IMPORTANT: Bugle Notes is in Beta. That means stuff will break. If it does, please tell us and we’ll fix it: Site Admin

• Bugle Notes Blog – Where anyone can Post an in-depth thought piece
• Blog Comments – Comment on someone’s post
• Groups – An engagement & discussion around a Topic e.g. Army Football or the Class of 1987
• The Wire – Leave a general “shout out” to someone, or a Group (Sort of like the Facebook Wall)
• Messages – Send private Messages to friends and classmates. Haze one of your old plebes.
• Friends – “Friend” members whose activities and discussions you are interested in and want to be a part of. Start with your class & cadet company

Some guidelines to keep things real:

• Name Field – Use your full name not your username. Do you really want to be known as “freakazoid666″ ?
• Grads & Cadets Only – Police our ranks. While we do verify attendance or graduation from USMA. (You MUST submit Name, Class & Company) However, if you see someone show up in your company that is an impostor, tell the Site Admin and we’ll have them flogged.
• Censorship – We don’t censor. If you want to make an ass of yourself, go ahead. Everyone’s watching.
• Avatars – Try and use a real picture of yourself, preferably a head shot, not that photo of Mel Gibson you have taped inside your Franklin Planner

Bugle Notes layout:

1. The Admin Bar – get stuff done here: write a post, manage your posts & comments, jump to your account

2. The Menu Bar – find your way around
3. Groups – the lifeblood of Bugle Notes. Groups are centered on a topic like Army Football. So you don’t have to listen to that Old Grad rant about the way the Corps Has…. that’s over in Cadet Life. Every Group has a Forum with an unlimited number of Topics – created by members. So you can create a New Topic as the need arises. Army beats Navy? New Topic. Army fires head coach? New Topic. Want to shout out something generic to the group? Post on the Wire.
That should get you on your way. Remember: Be professional, Say what’s on your mind, Add to the conversation OR you’ll end up with a load of laundry bundles dumped in your room right before SAMI. Beat Navy!