This board is for veterans, active duty, Guard and Reserve, and the families who stand behind them. Tell stories, ask about benefits, help someone with their transition, rib each other about branches. All welcome. On top of the [House Rules], this board has a few of its own.
1. OPSEC comes first: when in doubt, leave it out
This is a public forum. Anyone can read it, and that includes people who shouldn’t know your business. Do not post:
- Current or future locations of units, ships, or people, including where someone is deploying, when, or for how long.
- Troop or ship movements, schedules, or readiness.
- Missions, operations, or exercises that are ongoing or planned.
- Anything classified, CUI (controlled unclassified information), or marked for official use only, no matter how old it is or how harmless it seems.
- Security procedures, gate or access details, or weaknesses at any installation.
- Photos that show any of the above, including in the background: maps, whiteboards, screens, badges, ID cards, base gates, or equipment that shouldn’t be photographed.
Talking about a deployment after everyone is home, in general terms, is fine. “I did a WestPac in ’01” is a story. “My buddy’s unit ships out next Tuesday from…” is a problem.
2. Protect people (PERSEC)
Don’t post full names, ranks, units, and locations together for anyone still serving, yourself included. Don’t share personal details about service members or their families. If a family member is deployed, “my husband is deployed” is fine; where, when, and with whom is not.
3. Respect every branch, every era, every job
Inter-service ribbing is tradition. Belittling someone’s service isn’t. Combat or not, 2 years or 30, everyone who raised their hand gets the same respect here.
4. No stolen valor, no witch hunts
Don’t claim service, ranks, or awards you didn’t earn. If you think someone is faking it, report it to me privately. Don’t call them out in the thread.
5. Share resources, carefully
Benefits tips, VA how-tos, transition advice, and job leads are the heart of this board. Link to official sources when you can. Never ask for or post anyone’s Social Security number, DD-214, or service records here.
6. Not an official channel
This forum isn’t affiliated with the Department of Defense, the VA, or any branch of service. Nothing here is official guidance, and posts here can’t replace your chain of command, your VA representative, or a professional.
If you or someone you know is struggling
Veterans Crisis Line: dial 988, then press 1, or text 838255. Free, confidential, 24/7. You don’t have to be enrolled in VA benefits to call.
How it’s enforced
Posts that break the OPSEC rules are removed immediately, without a warning, and repeat or serious cases mean losing your account. It isn’t personal. It’s the same standard we all lived by.
Last updated: [date]