The Whiteboard Archive

A forthcoming series of my original whiteboards

Hi! I’m 1stLt Kayla Haas, a Marine Communication Strategy & Operations (COMMSTRAT) Officer and — when my operational tempo and free time allows — a whiteboard enthusiast.

(I usually look much happier when I’m visualizing information, but this is the only photo of me whiteboarding in-progress! Can you tell I prefer to be behind the camera?)

Like any new 2ndLt checking in to their first unit, I was eager to lead Marines. I’d spent the previous four and a half years at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., The Basic School at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., and the Defense Information School at Ft. Meade, Md., wrestling daily with the question officer candidates and newly-commissioned officers are frequently asked, “Are you ready to lead Marines?” By the time I hit the fleet, there was nothing I wanted to do more than lead.

As fate would have it, I spent my first seven months at Camp Lejeune, N.C., with 2d Marine Division COMMSTRAT as an Assistant Media Engagements Officer, removed from the 20+ talented, junior combat photographers, videographers, and graphics specialists.

I wanted to engage without stepping on toes, so I started posting brain teasers on the whiteboard in my office…

… and it actually worked! These problem solving challenges sparked conversations about personal interests, professional development, and more.

It wasn’t long before I started mixing in Professional Military Education (PME).

Perhaps the most important role for Marine Corps strategic communicators is contextualizing the Corps’ activities, operations, and policy. I wanted the COMMSTRAT Marines to understand more about the units, exercises, and deployments they were supporting with 2d Marine Division. So, we talked about JTACs, VBSS, MCDPs, and more! (Have you had enough acronyms, yet?)

Eventually, I was assigned to serve as the officer in charge of the COMMSTRAT detachment for Marine Rotational Force-Europe 21.1. In Norway, the whiteboard continued to evolve to best serve as a tool for my detachment.

For the last two and a half years, the whiteboard in my office has evolved with me as I’ve rotated billets and grown professionally.

What started as a means to spark conversation and encourage learning is still exactly that.

There are an abundance of effective education resources for Marines. I just want to make them known and accessible in my sphere of influence. I almost always attach a QR code to point Marines to additional reading they can explore source documents on their own initiative.

I have never been in this alone. To the Marines and connections across and outside the DoD who have lifted me up, provided thoughtful feedback, and supported me across platforms, thank you.

Over the next several weeks, I plan to publish my old whiteboards to this Substack so they can be easily searched, saved, and shared. I will also continue to digitally adapt these whiteboards so they can be viewed with clear text and without glare.

Here’s to learning!

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