Un-Verified Accounts: What do you think about them? How long should one have to verify it?

I've openly said at least twice in discussion that my name isn't Pete Mitchell, and that I'm not a major. I'm not disrespectful to anyone of actual lower or higher rank. It's a forum. It's not wearing unearned awards for the official DA photo. Common sense rules would apply. Service members are people as well. They are entitled to their opinion without reprisal for such. Anyone recall the SMA Chandler is watching you segment from the army times? I would not discipline soldiers of any rank for a posting on a social media forum, unless it was something exceptionally unconscionable and egregious. Is this not a free country?

Depends on the circumstances but I agree there should be a little Ike limit,

I disagree I have not verified mine yet one main reason is security. Although I highly recommend the sight I am not sure that I want to give my dd214 online. I think there should be an other way maybe being verified through JST site. I'm not sure of the correct answer but I still am apprehensive and I have been a member for a long time now.

In all honestly it's really hard to get verified as a cadet just putting it out there

I think the first question lies in What Legal Authority does RP have to verify anything?...and if it ever does gain any, then do a bunch of us free-thinkers and generally more outspoken start more silencing ourselves, which kinda defeats the purpose of the site?

Just out of curiosity I went to MY OWN profile, and didn't see a thing about whether or not I was "Verified". Frankly I do not recall ever having to submit a copy of a DD-214, or photocopy a VA Card (which by the way, up until recently would have been another problem as the older VA Cards displayed a SSN) ... so I don't know if I am verified or not. And I pretty much am unconcerned about it. I'm confident that any other Marine on here would vouch that my existence on RP passes the sniff-test.

Don't get me wrong here, I know everybody is all more enthused about calling out those Stolen Valor types more than they are worried about the effort they put forth into their own damn jobs these days...but I hope you are all considering what bureaucratic steps you might put into place that stifle the free-flowing dialog of real Veterans while you are at it.

While we're teetering on the subject, I need to take this time to point out that my "Marine Brother" below, GySgt Ekbald, popped into RP a while back, sent me a personal message just as a greeting, yet I haven't really heard a personal peep since...and then I see the profile says Homeland Security, and/or Washington DC, and that alone could be interpreted as more of the "Eye in the Sky is watching" especially the timing of such being not far from some folks wanting to label Veterans as "domestic terrorists", etc.

Not that I'm doing anything I have to hide or apologize for...but the point is...While you are at the tasks of implementing whichever flavor of Verification Nation...try to remember the original purposes of RP, and try not to roadblock those very purposes.

That would be my CUE for the RP Admins to interject on those originally intended purposes.

This perhaps should be a topic for the RP-Town Hall ... what ever happened to that? Was there one? Did I miss it? If I did, then I apologize. When is the next one?

I do agree with the verification process however I currently work for a Global IT/Software Development Corporation currently and have learned a lot about OPSEC in the Civilian world of IT. I have a couple of personal contacts within this Military site who I have served with that could verify me. i.e. SSG Anthony (Tony) Pichoff. That still does not change the fact that one way verification is correct. Remember basic soldier skills? Challenge and Password? Basically, who is on the only end? Does anyone on this site know who the actual site "priniciple(s)" are? Who are we or you sharing your information with? I am sure you get my point. Looking forward to hearing from you. Have a Hooah! Day. :-)

I agree , how hard is it to show a discharge dd 214 or VA card or active or reserve or retired id card ? If you can't scan it just use your cell phone's camera to take a photo and up load it . Only takes a minute. One or two days and it should be gone . And banded from making comments or connections until they have done so . What do you think ?

I agree!

Hmmm, at the risk of revealing my stupidity, I divulge this. When I first started reading RP I did not know what verified or unverified meant. Maybe I wasn't paying attention. (ADD has that effect.) Then, when I figured out that I needed to get verified, it took me a while to figure out how to get verified. (Yeah, I know, pretty dumb.) Then, because I don't have one of the computer thingys where you insert your ID card, I had to scan and send in my DD214. Then, I waited, and waited, and waited, I think about 3 weeks, and voila, I was verified. My point is, please give us dummys plenty of time to get verified.

meh