Communication Plan
Battle of Midway 80th Anniversary Commemoration, June 3-7, 2022
Download a pdf of the BOM 80 Comm Plan. (262 KB)
How to Use This Communication Plan:
This plan aligns Navy communication efforts commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Midway, offering resources to maximize the use of social media, speaking, online, and print channels to highlight the battle’s continued relevance in facing today’s fleet challenges. This guidance will enable local and regional commands to leverage existing Navy resources, to develop and share new products, and to produce observances appropriate to local audiences. Additionally, to assess and to improve the effectiveness of this Navy-wide effort, after-action reports and metrics are critical, allowing NHHC to capture wins and lessons for future observances.
Overview:
June 2022 marks the 80th anniversary of one of America’s most historically significant naval victories. The U.S. Navy’s determination, zeal, and valor at The Battle of Midway, a multi-day engagement fought June 3-7, 1942, blunted the Imperial Japanese navy’s striking force and its advance across the Pacific. Navy strategy in this conflict leveraged the power of our aircraft carriers, sustaining sea control and shifting the paradigm of maritime power projection to the carrier force. Our remembrance of Midway illustrates how our battle achievements in innovation, intelligence and courage serve as a model and as inspiration as we face the challenges of the future.
Timing of Communication Campaign:
June 1-7, 2022
Communication Goals:
- Inform and remind Sailors of the legacy of service and sacrifice to which they are heir.
- Highlight the importance of the aircraft carrier is to the Navy to maintain the advantage over adversaries through innovation.
- Help Sailors understand the level of heroism during the Battle of Midway resides within them every day.
- Build esprit de corps and pride among Sailors and Navy civilians for the history and heritage of the organization.
- Inform U.S. military veterans/retirees, military historians and the American public of the importance of the Battle of Midway in turning the tide of WWII to the allies’ favor and its significance in Navy history.
Targeted Audiences:
- Internal: Navy Sailors, Marines, and their families
- Secondary Internal: Senior Navy, Marine and DoD leadership
- External: U.S. military veterans/retirees, military historians, American publics
Messaging Framework:
Key Message |
Supporting Talking Points |
The best example of sacrifice and service—the American Sailor—is at the heart of any Navy victory. |
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The same fighting spirit that led naval aviators to victory during the Battle of Midway thrives in our Sailors today. |
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The Battle of Midway was a decisive moment in history. |
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The Navy is a protective force, both then and now. |
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Communication Resources and Channels:
- Naval History and Heritage Command Battle of Midway Commemoration Toolkit
- Naval History and Heritage Command Battle of Midway landing page
- Naval History and Heritage Command Sextant Blog
- Naval History and Heritage Command on Facebook
- Naval History and Heritage Command on Twitter
- Naval History and Heritage Command on Instagram
Suggested Tactics for Command/Unit PAOs and MCs:
**NOTE: Employ available resources in the NHHC Battle of Midway Toolkit
Tactics |
Objective Met |
Use hashtags #Midway80, #WWIITurningPoint and #NavyCarrierCentennial in all shared social content Navy-wide |
1, 2, 3, 4 |
Actively share Battle of Midway content and stories on Navy and local command web sites and/or social properties June 1-7, 2022. |
1, 2, 3, 4 |
Use socially optimized graphics to share content across online platforms. |
2, 3, 4 |
Live-tweet key events of the Battle of Midway, using relevant images and links to encourage engagement, or live-tweet local events. |
2, 3 |
Senior Navy leadership conduct speeches to crew/public providing historical context and link events to the missions and capabilities of today’s Sailors. |
1, 4 |
Amplify stories shared from Navy-owned social platforms about Sailors who persevered during the Battle of Midway in spite of extreme challenges and changing battle conditions. |
1, 2, 3, 4 |
Solicit and share stories from surviving veterans of Midway to share on Navy-owned digital platforms. |
1, 3, 4 |
Distribute press releases and media kit/pitches to outlets that may be interested in telling a story related to Battle of Midway and the Navy Carrier 100th. |
4, 5 |
Measurements of Effectiveness:
|
Objectives |
Tactics/Key Performance Indicator |
1 |
Use key messages and talking points to connect Sailors’ sacrifice and heroism during the Battle of Midway to the readiness and resiliency of today’s Sailors. |
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2 |
Use key Battle of Midway messages and talking points to reach no fewer than 1.5M people across digital platforms. |
|
3 |
Use live-action tweeting of commemoration events or other Twitter engagements to highlight stories of sacrifice and heroism during the Battle of Midway. |
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4 |
Use Battle of Midway content from NHHC’s web presence and commemoration online toolkit to share with today’s Sailors the Battle of Midway legacy of service, sacrifice and esprit de corps. |
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5 |
Coordinate with local/regional media on coverage that explores the historical significance of the Battle of Midway and the importance of the aircraft carrier and the vital role it played in defending our nations’ freedom, as well as contributing to the allies’ victory in WWII. |
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Required Fleet Public Affairs Support:
NHHC:
- Establish a Working Group (WG) of key stakeholders to oversee planning and program development for the Battle of Midway (BOM) commemoration.
- NHHC will serve as chairman of the BOM WG.
- Track Navy-wide commemoration plans as they develop, and coordinate with BOM WG members to identify and share available resources for global execution.
- Develop a commemoration toolkit for use by Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFFC), Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT), Commander, Navy Installations (CNIC), Commander, Navy Reserve Force (CNRF), Naval Education and Training Command (NETC), Commander, Navy Recruiting Command (CNRC), Regional Commanders, Commanding Officers, and Officers in Charge.
- Provide and make available a body of lessons learned at the tactical, operational and strategic levels from previous BOM commemorations.
- Draft BOM Navy Execute Order for release as NAVADMIN by DNS. Message to be released NLT 01 April 2022.
- Compile Midway lessons learned and after action from other stakeholders and provide this to DNS NLT 15 July 2022.
CHIEF OF NAVAL INFORMATION (CHINFO):
- Provide representatives to the BOM WG.
- Disseminate the BOM 80th Anniversary Communication Plan to ashore and afloat commands by 01 April 2022.
- IAW NAVADMIN 026/22 and Battle of Midway working group lead, provide BOM lessons learned to NHHC NLT 24 June 2022.
USFFC; COMPACFLT; CNIC; CNRF; NETC; and CNRC:
- Provide representatives as necessary to support the BOM WG.
- Ensure COs and OICs plan for and commemorate the 80th anniversary of the BOM.
- Execute the BOM 80th Anniversary Communication Plan, disseminated by CHINFO, and participate in planned community outreach activities as operationally feasible.
- IAW NAVADMIN 096/21 and Battle of Midway working group lead, provide BOM lessons learned to NHHC NLT 24 June 2022.
- Report all commemorative events to NHHC NLT 24 June 2022.
-- NHHC --