Posted on Jan 24, 2014
Opening Rallypoint to U.S. Ally Soldiers? Pros/Cons.
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Posted in these groups: 
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RallyPoint Allies
Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 17
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So far the Army PR machine has done a good job of establishing our reputation as a disciplined, knowledgeable, educated NCO Corps.
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Do we really want to ruin that by having them watch us argue over such earth shattering topics like fleece caps and nail polish?
Lets leave the mystery in place shall we?
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LTC Paul Labrador
You really think the US military has a monopoly on "chickenshit"?
Bigger issue is with some OPSEC issues that may slip through the cracks.
Bigger issue is with some OPSEC issues that may slip through the cracks.
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I think we should keep it in house. Alot of the discussions may not be understood to foreign nationals in the context we are talking about.
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I hate to pile on, but I think it's a bad idea. The definition of "foreign contacts" extends to anyone with whom you have regular contact - including only through social media. It is very clear on the new EQIP. Investigators get very nervous when you cannot answer basic questions about your foreign contacts like DoB, place of birth, current address, etc - especially if they work for their respective governments or have military affiliations or...the real red flag, if they work for foreign intelligence services.
Thanks to MIBOLC, I have foreign contacts that work for foreign intelligence services and was raked over the coals in my periodic re-investigation as to why I still talk to them. I certainly do not need to have more ways to "keep in touch."
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Maj Walter Kilar
I am in the same situation. I cut all my foreign and questionably foreign contacts from all forms of social media. Adding them here would mean losing my only interaction with members of other U.S. military services (other than my neighbors here in base housing).
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Very good question SSG Parra, I have to agree with SFC Trodahl and SSG Cedeno, they bring up very valid points. I too have worked with our Latin American partners and know that culture differences could hamper discussion threads on RP.
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¡No bueno! I have worked with almost all Latin American militaries and one Con would be they do not understand U.S military culture. Also they are not use to seeing NCOs leading and having a voice in their forces.
It might open their eyes, but it might cause friction because of different beliefs.
Note: I have work for 4 years with my fellow counterparts of South and Central America in WHINSEC and now the Inter American Defense College and they are a different breed.
It might open their eyes, but it might cause friction because of different beliefs.
Note: I have work for 4 years with my fellow counterparts of South and Central America in WHINSEC and now the Inter American Defense College and they are a different breed.
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SSG If RP did that I would not mind, however I would have a code of silence in affect.
I never served with any other Armed forces other then the USA and RP was created for US Military members and veterans by a SM himself. If ally soldiers were brought in then I guess we can bring every one on Face Book as well.
Some topics here in RP need to stay with in and need to be handled with us.
If we spoke about cats, they might think cows and that can produce a misunderstanding and confusion.
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I have to concur with almost all responses. No. If this were to happen, I might not leave, but my profile would be heavily sanitized and my participation would decrease a lot.
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MSG (Join to see)
I see you have a foreign badge, did you not interact with the German soldiers testing for their proficiency?
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CW3 (Join to see)
I'm not sure I see where you’re going with this SSG Graves. I did earn a foreign badge, though (oddly) I didn't interact with any foreign Soldiers while earning it, only when it was awarded. I have spent many years overseas, and conducted many multinational operations/excercises. I absolutely love our foreign partners, but I will never have the same level of disclosure in a public forum as I will in a private, access controlled forum. Even if they somehow validate a person as foreign military, wearing a uniform does not make me inherently trust a foreigner.
We share all sorts of things with our coalition partners, but not everything. We have OPSEC for a reason, and we all have different comfort levels of disclosure. My comfort level is at at one point with an American, a different point with a Soldier, and still different if talking with foreigners.
If we have foreign military on Rally Point, I will edit my participation based on OPSEC given the audience. I will interact, but at a very different level of disclosure. The only reason I share what I share is because (I have some confidence) the vetting process assures that my information is only going out to a trusted audience. Honestly, I would change my participation a lot if this was just open to the American public. I participate how I do because I consider my brothers and sisters in arms as family. I don’t always get along with my family, but I’m stuck trusting them, because I have to anyway. There are now, and will always be, traitors. That will not stop me from participating in a network I want to be a part of, but there is no method to validate military members of some other nation. Even if we can prove they are military, we still cannot prove their trustworthiness.
We share all sorts of things with our coalition partners, but not everything. We have OPSEC for a reason, and we all have different comfort levels of disclosure. My comfort level is at at one point with an American, a different point with a Soldier, and still different if talking with foreigners.
If we have foreign military on Rally Point, I will edit my participation based on OPSEC given the audience. I will interact, but at a very different level of disclosure. The only reason I share what I share is because (I have some confidence) the vetting process assures that my information is only going out to a trusted audience. Honestly, I would change my participation a lot if this was just open to the American public. I participate how I do because I consider my brothers and sisters in arms as family. I don’t always get along with my family, but I’m stuck trusting them, because I have to anyway. There are now, and will always be, traitors. That will not stop me from participating in a network I want to be a part of, but there is no method to validate military members of some other nation. Even if we can prove they are military, we still cannot prove their trustworthiness.
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There is a wealth of information on my profile: full name, rank, MOS, unit assignment with job position and a picture to go with it all, that would be gold for Foreign Military Intel. Lets keep this site as a good resource to connect with others and discuss issues that matter, not just FB with a different name.
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Pros: none. Cons: those of us with certain security clearances would leave the site immediately.
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SSG Parra,
No. I would leave if that happened since I'm a 35 series. In my case, it wouldn't be an OPSEC violation, but it would be telling foreign militaries who I am and what I do. Complete with a name, rank, assignment and picture.
Now, based on my experience, that is NOT something other militaries need to know...
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