Should foreign military members be allowed on RP?

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 23:41:25 -0500

I have some friends that have served in foreign military services, and I think they would love RP. Lebanese and Mexican Army respectively. I was wondering if they were allowed to join, or is this just for US Veterans and active personnel? I noticed some civilians on here as well....just wondering if I should invite them.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 25 at 2014 1:36 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 01:36:19 -0500

Sure, with limited access.

Response by SSG Leonard J W. made Nov 25 at 2014 10:31 PM

SSG Leonard J W. — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 22:31:39 -0500

I say yes. We already have them in our schools and learning some of our skills. However, they should have their own membership category (like the civilians) so privacy settings could be adjusted if necessary. Not to mention, nothing on RallyPoint should ever surpass Unclassified//FOUO. Most things on here never even come close, anyway.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 26 at 2014 5:32 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 17:32:17 -0500

Just wondering who you knew from the Lebanese Army, and how recently you met them. I know a great many LAF/LSOF individuals.

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Nov 26 at 2014 6:10 PM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 18:10:55 -0500

I think it is a good idea however, implementation would require a lot of research and caution. There is a ton of PII on this site for thousands and thousands of Service Members, Veterans, Retirees, and Civilians alike. What would be the vetting process? How could admin be sure that foreign military members were not part of a foreign intelligence security service? This site would be a goldmine for anyone collecting on US persons. It would be very easy to identify who had placement and access to what and where. Elicitation or other exploitation methods could be easily used to gather information.

Granted, this may sound "far-fetched," but I do believe that there would definitely need to be some serious thought and fail safes in place for any kind of implementation. Just my two cents...

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2014 11:10 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 11:10:24 -0500

At the risk of being the "Lone Ranger" I would vote no. I think Rally Point was founded to give American Service Members and veterans a place to discuss topics. While it might be nice to have a foreign point-of-view, I don't think Rally Point is designed for that.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2014 12:08 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 12:08:04 -0500

I think their should be a sister page "rallypoint.allied.com" perhaps. The old adage, Do not air your dirty laundry in public applies here. I use rally point to take a healthy critical look at our ways of doing business and share my honest views and opinions with my brother and sisters. I would not feel comfortable discussing shortcomings or possible improvements of my nations services if I thought other nations were perusing our conversations.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2014 12:13 PM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 12:13:51 -0500

I agree with MSG Stankovich. Soldiers love to gossip, and we generally don't pay as much attention as we should to who is listening. For some countries there isn't a lot of distinction between military service and security service, and I would not be comfortable revealing my service data to foreign intelligence officers. I have had enough fun with that in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Response by CSM Allen Dahl made Nov 27 at 2014 12:26 PM

CSM Allen Dahl — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 12:26:11 -0500

I too have friends in several foreign services, however I don't believe RP is the right forum for multi-national inclusion. Too many PII issues and most items of discussion are "US Centric" in nature anyway.

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Nov 27 at 2014 12:52 PM

CMSgt James Nolan — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 12:52:19 -0500

Personal opinion, no. This is for U.S. service members. I agree there could be a similar site, but...I would personally not be on it.

There are fantastic members of other nation's military that we absolutely work hand in hand with. This site is not the place.

Respectfully

Response by SFC(P) Tobias M. made Nov 28 at 2014 2:04 PM

SFC(P) Tobias M. — Fri, 28 Nov 2014 14:04:05 -0500

Maybe they can make a Rally Point International?

Response by SPC Ryan Su made Nov 29 at 2014 9:34 AM

SPC Ryan Su — Sat, 29 Nov 2014 09:34:54 -0500

NO!!!!!! Because some of our conversations are contained sensitive information for foreign military.even we're think it's not. But the stuff here might be valuable intell for foreign military!!!!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 29 at 2014 10:42 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 Nov 2014 10:42:04 -0500

Why not let them in?

I think that many would have difficulty weighing in on the more parochial issues presented on the site, but an outside perspective would likely add appreciably to the discussion.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 29 at 2014 1:53 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 Nov 2014 13:53:19 -0500

I vote no. If there was an inclusion of foreign military there would have to be some serious protocols implemented in my opinion.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 30 at 2014 5:58 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Nov 2014 17:58:41 -0500

This would be a horrible idea. I know friendships build over time when working with foreign forces, however the time and effort that it would take to put in safeguards would outweigh the benefits. In the cyber world we live in today it's not worth the risk of "connecting" to someone who ends up being part of a foreign intelligence service and elicits all kinds of information. Unless you're a SM who is in an environment where these things are something you have to look out for on a regular basis the majority do not even bother thinking about it. Look at Facebook for example. How many people have been hemmed up for post stupid stuff?

Just my point of view.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 12 at 2014 6:25 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 18:25:39 -0500

No, absolutely not. I don't even agree entirely with civilians, but if they're here as representitives from companies that's a different story. I still have my reservations about it, but at least there's a reason for it.

The whole foreign armies thing could open up a whole opsec can of worms and bring the eyes of intelligence agencies upon us (not that they aren't already..).

Response by SrA Andrea West made Dec 12 at 2014 6:27 PM

SrA Andrea West — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 18:27:10 -0500

My vote would also be no.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2015 10:43 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 10:43:23 -0500

There are already foreign military on RallyPoint, foreign journalists, foreign others.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 12 at 2015 8:19 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 12 Dec 2015 20:19:05 -0500

It simply does not sound like a good idea to me.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 12 at 2015 9:01 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sat, 12 Dec 2015 21:01:56 -0500

Sure if they add value.