Here are some key notes highlighting the directive. Please read the entire Directive in order to prevent any misconstrued guidance.
Commanders who have table of distribution and allowances (TDA) or modified table of organization and equipment (MTOE) authorizations that include a 46-series Public Affairs Officer, Public Affairs Noncommissioned Officer (NCO), or a Department of the Army Civilian Public Affairs Specialist (Career Program 22/1035) are the only commanders who may establish and maintain an authorized organizational social media presence.
For the National Guard Bureau, State and territory adjutants general may establish and maintain positional social media presences. Although federally recognized, Army National Guard State adjutants general are State or territory employees who are not subject to this guidance when not on Title 10 orders. Their maintenance of an official social media presence is not mandatory, but it is recommended they follow this guidance for the purposes of Army message and brand synchronization.
To ensure brand integrity, governance, and compliance, Army Reserve units are authorized to maintain official organizational social media accounts only at the general officer level (1-star and above) and must have oversight by a 46-series Public Affairs Officer, Public Affairs NCO, or Department of the Army Civilian Public Affairs Specialist (Career Program 22/1035).
Although Special Reporting Code 45 units include 46-series personnel and actively produce social media content in support of their assigned or attached units, they are not authorized to operate independent organizational accounts. Units will deactivate any existing accounts associated no later than 28 February 2026.
Subordinate units without authorized personnel will deactivate their social media following record management procedures in reference 1d. To maintain communication efforts, they should submit content to higher-level accounts for posting. For example, the Fort Hood garrison Instagram account should feature content from other Fort Hood garrison organizations. Closed groups, such as Facebook groups, are not considered official and may be used by subordinate units.
Principal officials in the Headquarters, Department of the Army (HQDA), commanding generals and command sergeants major of Army commands (ACOMs), Army service component commands (ASCCs), and direct reporting units (DRUs) are authorized, but not required, to have official social media accounts. Leadership social media is considered official communication and must adhere to the same standards and requirements as official accounts. Leadership accounts below these levels are not authorized, and their content must be integrated into organizational social media accounts.
All public-facing command social media accounts that do not have an assigned 46-series Public Affairs Officer, Public Affairs NCO, or Department of the Army Civilian Public Affairs Specialist (Career Program 22/1035) will deactivate and archive by 28 February 2026.