Where is the Straight Talk? Published Feb. 16, 2013 By SSgt Lealan Buehrer 182nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs February 16, 2013 -- When disaster strikes, the number one commodity becomes information. Far too often in these situations there is the potential in the world of media for information to be given out at uncomfortably slow amounts of time, or even given out erroneously to beat a deadline. However, the 182nd Airlift Wing utilizes a communications system to avoid such occurrences through the dissemination of valuable information that is correct, uniform, and issued in a timely manner. This system is called the Straight Talk Phone Line, and it is readily available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. The Straight Talk Phone Line is a standard commercial telephone number that enables communication during times of emergency contingencies through a voice messaging system. This system provides not only for rumor control, but for the distribution of factual information to anyone who wants to know. Through the 182nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs office, messages are approved by the Public Affairs Officer and then uploaded to an automatic messaging system that can be accessed by any individual at any time or place around the world. The messages are not permitted to contain classified and For Official Use Only information, nor is it allowed to speak of material that is not in the good practice of Operations Security or the Installation Commander's Critical Information List. Nevertheless, this phone line can be paramount for obtaining a baseline understanding of any event occurring in the area of responsibility of the 182nd Airlift Wing. When no incident has occurred and there is nothing of significance to report, the Straight Talk Phone line will be represented by a standardized voice message explaining such. However, in the event of emergency, catastrophe, or disaster, one can rest assured that information and updates will be readily available through this innovative function of the Public Affairs Office. Whether it be networking for civilian media sources or providing peace of mind to a dependent, the Straight Talk Phone Line is there to be listened to. To access the Straight Talk Phone Line 24/7, please call 309-633-6253 or DSN 724-6253.