The document provides information on effective military communication and writing. It discusses barriers to communication like physical, cultural and language differences. It outlines the Army rules for writing, including using active voice, short paragraphs and sentences. The document explains how to recognize and correct passive voice, and the steps to developing an effective military brief, including researching the topic, planning, rehearsing, revising and delivering the final briefing.

1. Effective Military
Communication

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

3. Barriers to Communication
• Physical Barriers
• Cultural Barriers
• Language Differences
• Format Errors
• Grammar and Spelling Mistakes

4. Military Writing

5. “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

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. DISADVANTAGES OF USING
PASSIVE VOICE
Leaves critical information unstated
Evades responsibility
Increases length

10. HOW TO RECOGNIZE THE
PASSIVE VOICE
BE
AM
IS
ARE
WAS
WERE
BEING
BEEN
PAST PARTICIPLE
ENDING IN –ED OR
–EN
GIVEN
TAKEN
IMPLEMENTED
CONDUTED
ORDERED

11. HOW TO CORRECT
PASSIVE VOICE
Put the doer before the verb.
Appropriate clothing will BE WORN by all
personnel.
All personnel will wear appropriate clothing.

12. HOW TO CORRECT
PASSIVE VOICE
Drop part of the verb.
The soldier WAS TRANSFERRED to Ft
Bragg.
He transferred to Ft Bragg.

13. HOW TO CORRECT
PASSIVE VOICE
Change the verb.
Personnel ARE PROHIBITED from
smoking during refueling operations.
Personnel must not smoke during
refueling.

14. Military Briefs

15. Different Types of
Briefs
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Information
Decision
Mission
Staff

16. Step 1:
Research The Topic (1 of 2)
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Obtain All Available Information
Write Detailed Notes
Organize Your Notes
Determine the Purpose of Your Briefing

17. Step 1:
Research The Topic (2 of 2)
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•
•
•
Determine the Role of the Briefer
Determine Who the Audience Is
Determine the Setting
Determine the Time Constraints

18. 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

19. Step 3:
Deliver the Practice Briefing
Rehearse
Rehearse
Rehearse

20. 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

21. 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

22. Information Brief
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Introduction Slide
Purpose Slide
Outline Slide
Main Point Slides
Summary Slide
Conclusion Slide

23. Information Brief
52nd Infantry Division (Mechanized)
CPT Hennessey
UNCLASSIFIED

24. 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.

25. Information Brief
OUTLINE
Main Point #1
Main Point #2
Main Point #3…….etc..
Summary
Questions
Conclusions

26. 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….”

27. Information Brief
SUMMARY
Main Point #1
Main Point #2
Main Point #3
Etc….
• Summarize the major points of the
briefing; then ask for questions.
• Ensure that the audience knows that you
welcome their questions.

28. Information Brief
Conclusion
• 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.

29. History of the 82nd Airborne
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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

30. 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

31. 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 hellacool!!

32. Information Brief
Equipment / Weapons Systems
• M1 Abrams Tank
• M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle
• M113 Armored Personnel Carrier

33. Information Brief

34. Briefing Content
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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