How do you manage friendships with foreign military service members?

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 01 Jan 2016 17:17:48 -0500

Pretty straight forward. Can you keep friendships with foreign service members of friendly countries/allies. Could they become POC down the road?

Has it worked well for you in the past?

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Jan 1 at 2016 5:29 PM

SGM Erik Marquez — Fri, 01 Jan 2016 17:29:29 -0500

I do, 2 from the UK, 1 from Iraq, 1 from France.
Some are just acquaintances that say hi once and awhile, 1 is a closer friend and if we lived on the same side of the earth would hang out often I think.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Jan 1 at 2016 6:08 PM

SN Greg Wright — Fri, 01 Jan 2016 18:08:19 -0500

1LT Private RallyPoint Member Be careful with that, if you wind up with a security clearance. Be sure to understand the regs regarding it.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jan 1 at 2016 7:08 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Fri, 01 Jan 2016 19:08:10 -0500

Well kinda depends where they are from. A little caution is worthwhile but for the most part not a problem. In the Intelligence Field the US/UK/CAN/AUS/NZ kinda function as one so very rarely is there a conflict of interest. My DIVO in TACINTEL School was LT Skull Royal Navy. I served in Diego Garcia with the Brits, Hell I even got to help the Brit Marines with training US Marines Riot Control Procedures. In my current job as a Private Security Officer I have a lot of friends and coworkers that are originally from Muslim Countries and On-Line I converse with a lot of folks in the Field in the UK.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 1 at 2016 7:35 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 01 Jan 2016 19:35:26 -0500

I don't manage them, I cherish them as I do any others. They were formed in many of the same ways I formed friendships with my American neighbors. Facebook has certainly opened the "floodgates" to the world, as has the Internet, at large. I love what it has done to increase my circle of friends around the globe.

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Jan 1 at 2016 10:24 PM

COL Jon Thompson — Fri, 01 Jan 2016 22:24:08 -0500

For a security clearance, you will need to report any relationships with non-US citizens that is outside of a military relationship or a one-time meeting. So if they are a friend that you converse with in any form or a business partner, you must report it. I think this would include a member of a foreign military that you maybe met first on a mil to mil engagement but it proceeded well beyond that. So if you consider them a friend, report it. I would also say that you should know at least a little of their background so you are not associating with someone who has views, connections, etc. of something that may get you in trouble. Also, their country of origin will also be an issue and you can probably figure out which countries of origin will be more questionable. But as long as you are forthright when going for a clearance, it should not be a problem.