18X Public Service Announcement

[Team Sergeant]

Thinking of joining Special Forces?

Want to earn the honor of wearing that Green Beret?

Then do yourself a favor, remove your MySpace.com and Facebook.com web pages.

Don’t want to or don’t care?

Fine.

But do not expect to ever be selected for any covert or clandestine missions, period. (It ain’t going to happen when millions already know your face and name.)

Oh, and those classified counter-terrorist units people whisper about. Forget it, not a snowball's chance in hell of you joining after posting your face and name all over the internet.

You had a web page and now removed it, you might still be able to join…but forget the classified missions or covert unit assignments. Again, it ain’t going to happen.

You do understand how Google, Yahoo, MSN, etc use the "archive mode" to save all your information, right?

We do…and our enemies do, too! http://www.archive.org/index.php

Just type in Professionalsoldiers.com right after the http:// on this web page:

http://www.archive.org/web/web.php

Your MySpace.com and Facebook.com web pages will be on the internet for decades to come and you’ll continue to wonder, "Why didn’t I get selected for some of those classified missions?"

You can bet that every time one of you place your face on a web page and you state you just signed up to be an 18X, some hostile foreign intelligence service just made a file on you.

HOIS = hostile foreign intelligence service http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/new_pubs/jp1_02.pdf (Do a google search on "hostile foreign intelligence service")

You don’t have to believe me; you’ll know when you’re not selected to go on certain missions or refused to join some units.

OK, you’ve been warned and remember, "Life is tough but it’s tougher when you’re stupid."

This has been a Team Sergeant 18X public service announcement.

[Richard]

This is a serious issue and I hope you younger guys heed this warning.

As a principal, I've suspended and expelled students over their MySpace, Facebook and IM misbehavior. We have a company that does a web search on any faculty applicant which can lead to them not being offered a contract.

Colleges and universities have specialists who search the WWW (MySpace and Facebook in particular) before deciding upon offering students enrollment and expel students for web misbehavior.

My wife is the West Team Leader (everything west of the Mississippi River) for a Fortune Top 500 company, and she has had to fire employess and reject exceptionally qualified candidates for web-issues because the company does WWW searches on all potential hires and periodically on its employees.

And for anybody looking for employment with any organizatioin requiring an upper level security clearance, this is an even GREATER issue.

REMEMBER - the WWW is a public domain!

TS is 100% correct. :lifter

Richard's $.02 :munchin

[SF_BHT]

TS and Richard are Spot on.

If you want to serve and be the best at our chosen profession be a Quiet Professional not a My Space Idiot. Our most effective Soldiers were not the ones fighting down at Ricks but those that stayed in the shadows and did the missions that no one else could and moved on with out any fan fare.

My 2 cents

[rm1249]

I have heeded the warnings posted on this sticky and have removed content from the internet, my facebook profile. My question pertains to other information available on the internet. I am a college athlete and it is NCAA regulation that statistics be recorded for all games and players and that the information be posted on the college's website for verification of participation and eligibility issues. When I google my name these stats come up, no pictures just my name and stats from that game. Could this encourage a negative effect on my future endeavors i.e. SFAS and once on a team? Any information is appreciated.
Thanks,
rm1249

[SF_BHT]

I have heeded the warnings posted on this sticky and have removed content from the internet, my facebook profile. My question pertains to other information available on the internet. I am a college athlete and it is NCAA regulation that statistics be recorded for all games and players and that the information be posted on the college's website for verification of participation and eligibility issues. When I google my name these stats come up, no pictures just my name and stats from that game. Could this encourage a negative effect on my future endeavors i.e. SFAS and once on a team? Any information is appreciated.
Thanks,
rm1249

In todays world you can not be totally erased. That info will not hurt. Personal data is out there IE: Phone books, local Gov info, accounts, etc. The intent of this thread/Sticky is to make people aware that things like My-Space, Face-Book, etc are not pluses. For safety and future employment do not get caught up in the networking that many subscribe to.

[rm1249]

Roger that. Thank you.

[JJ_BPK]

When I google my name these stats come up, no pictures just my name and stats from that game. Thanks, rm1249


Here is a little help from Google. I have not tried this route, so I can't give you a warm fuzzy that it will work..



http://www.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=9111


Removing Information From Google: Personal information
Because information in our search results is located on publicly available third-party webpages, you'll need to first contact the webmaster of the site containing your information. The webmaster could either remove your information or block Google from including specific webpages in its search index.

Once the webmaster makes these changes, Google's search results will update automatically when it next crawls the page. If you need us to expedite the removal of old webpages (also known as cached copy) after the webmaster makes these changes, please submit your request using our webpage removal request tool.

View additional instructions on using the tool to submit a removal request.


http://www.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=92865

[Scimitar]

Just to clarify, am I correct to say that the security goal here is to try to mitigate any public reference that combines ones name or photo with SF.

Yes?

[Team Sergeant]

Just to clarify, am I correct to say that the security goal here is to try to mitigate any public reference that combines ones name or photo with SF.

Yes?

Yup, I don't care what your wife says, you're a smart guy.;)

[Scimitar]

My wife formally requests that you stop calling her to ask her opinon of me. :D

S

[IRONRKSNS]

http://www.squidoo.com/personalInformation

Here is a website I found that gives directions on how to attempt to remove your personal info from certain websites on the net.

[Soft Target]

The impact of web content, especially if you're a self-professed comedian, cannot be understated in this environment. An investigator that did my "bring-up" recently told me that is now the first thing they check, then credit report. IMO there is entirely too much open source info available - you active guys know, this ain't your grandaddy's war.

[funnyman]

Don't forget about the "Wayback Machine": http://www.archive.org/web/web.php.
Once your info is out, it's extremely hard to erase.

Regarding facebook/myspace: some things are outside your direct control like friends and family posting pics of you and 'tagging' them to include your name. You should consider asking them to not post pics of you, or at least not pics that id you clearly. If you explain why, they should understand and comply.

- Just my $.02

[ksgbobo]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,494064,00.html

Facebook Membership May Be Forever
Monday , February 16, 2009

Once a Facebook member, always a member.

The Consumerist blog noticed Sunday that the social-networking giant had quietly made a change to its user Terms of Service (TOS) on Feb. 4.

Facebook now declares that it has a perpetual license to use anything you post to your own Facebook page — even if you terminate your account.

Here's the licensing part of the legalese, which sounds bad enough:

"You hereby grant Facebook an irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, transferable, fully paid, worldwide license (with the right to sublicense) to (a) use, copy, publish, stream, store, retain, publicly perform or display, transmit, scan, reformat, modify, edit, frame, translate, excerpt, adapt, create derivative works and distribute (through multiple tiers), any User Content you (i) Post on or in connection with the Facebook Service or the promotion thereof subject only to your privacy settings or (ii) enable a user to Post, including by offering a Share Link on your website and (b) to use your name, likeness and image for any purpose, including commercial or advertising, each of (a) and (b) on or in connection with the Facebook Service or the promotion thereof."

In other words, while it doesn't actually own your photos, scribblings and status updates — you do — Facebook can do whatever it wants with it, whenever it wants, in order to promote itself or create or sell ads.

Theoretically, it can even "license" a picture of your kids for use in a third party's ad campaign.

Most of that has been part of the Facebook Terms of Service for a while. After all, without user-generated content, Facebook would be nothing.

What's been removed is this: "If you choose to remove your User Content, the license granted above will automatically expire, however (sic) you acknowledge that the Company may retain archived copies of your User Content."

And what's been added is this: "The following sections will survive any termination of your use of the Facebook Service" — after which follows a list of most of the sections on the Terms of Service page.

So even if you decide Facebook isn't for you, the site can still use anything you posted. It's all been archived.

"I'm done with Facebook," declared blogger Ed Champion upon learning of the TOS changes.

He seemed more annoyed at the older blanket license than the new never-say-die part of the legalese — ironic considering that if he'd deleted his account before Feb. 4 his account really would have been gone for good.

A Facebook representative told the Chicago Tribune that the Web site would soon issue a response to Consumerist's posting.

[rm1249]

Boy am I glad I got out when I did, months ago when this thread was originally posted. Thanks to TS for the thread and all for the helpful information.

[Scimitar]

This just popped up on Facebook

Over the past few days, we have received a lot of feedback about the new terms we posted two weeks ago. Because of this response, we have decided to return to our previous Terms of Use while we resolve the issues that people have raised.

S

[Kosta]

According to the blog, the reason for the TOS change was to make explicit their legal right to retain, for example, messages that you have sent to other people. It would be pretty silly if they had to delete all messages from you if you left.

However, people (rightly) protested the Orwellian wording, so now they've reverted while they search for a less totalitarian way to phrase it.

[JJ_BPK]

According to the blog, the reason for the TOS change was to make explicit their legal right to retain, for example, messages that you have sent to other people. It would be pretty silly if they had to delete all messages from you if you left.

However, people (rightly) protested the Orwellian wording, so now they've reverted while they search for a less totalitarian way to phrase it.

This topic has come up on just about all IT service TOS's..

The provider has to make back-ups and archives of customer data,, all of it.. Which in turn creates bazillions of entries. This in turn makes it almost impossible to manage individual transactions..

Net Net,, It's a big CYA,, they need to keep the info so you can recover,, but the costs and activities involved are their responsibility to maintain. They just want to be able to keep the customer happy,, and not have to get everyones permission every day they do redundant data recovery back-up..

Lawyers are the ones that contrive the wording,, with-out thinking about the semantics and sentence readability..

[Kosta]

Wouldn't it be possible for these corporations to simply specify that the infinite retention of data is for internal use and not for public release? That would calm those of us who value privacy (or, at least, it would calm me).

Or would that not work for some reason? I'm a mathematician, Jim, not a lawyer.

[Ret10Echo]

Facebook has apparently backed-off of the TOS modification due to the surge. of customer comments...

That being said...I still fail to see the attraction to those types of social networking sites.

****************************
Facebook 'withdraws' data changes
The founder of Facebook says the social network will return to its previous terms of service regarding user data.

In a blog post Mark Zuckerberg said the move was temporary "while we resolve the issues that people have raised".

Users had complained after new terms of service seemed to suggest Facebook would retain personal data even if someone deleted their account.

Originally defending the changes, Mr Zuckerberg had said it was to better reflect how people used the site.

He had said the changes were made to ensure that if a user deleted his or her account any comments or messages he or she had left on a friend's Facebook page would not also disappear.

Full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7896309.stm

Blog article from the BBC Technology Editor http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/technology/2009/02/facebook_still_showing_growing.html

[The Reaper]

I would say that this temporary reprieve represents an excellent opportunity to get your ID, face, and personal info off of an internet website which has already indicated that they have a desire to retain the rights to everything you have posted, and to use it for whatever purpose they wish.

If you are an SF soldier, or want to be one, you may not want this info on the net or archived for use by whoever they might give or sell access to in the future.

If you are the family member or significant other of a soldier, you might want to consider how an enemy might be able to use the info against you.

I understand that some people just don't care, and in that case, drive on with whatever plan you have.

Best of luck.

TR

[HQ6]

If you are the family member or significant other of a soldier, you might want to consider how an enemy might be able to use the info against you.

Amen! I have talked to wives and girlfriends about this until I am blue in the face, but it seems without a directive from the COC, they don't care :rolleyes:

[beans]

I recently deleted my facebook and myspace accounts. In addition, I have also been Googling my name to find other sites might have information about me. I found this site to be very disturbing. Peekyou.com. It had a picture of me at the beach and also has accounts with all my immediate family and what cities they live in. I have been looking for a way to delete this internet created account. Please inform.

Beans

[funnyman]

In my years contracting at the world's largest tech companies, I can tell you this: even the biggest three-letter-named companies in the world don't have their shit together. And despite what their TOS says, and despite their best intentions, data leaks out, be it by accident, intrusion, etc. So the only good policy is this: do not trust ANY entity with your personal data unless it's data you wouldn't mind seeing printed on the front page of the Wall Street Journal.

WRT having already posted your info on sites: consider conducting a formal disinformation campaign. Enter a birthday, but the wrong one. List the wrong college and high school. Do that on a couple sites. Upload random pics of people from the internet. Create a homepage somewhere, link to it in your social networking profiles, and then track who goes to that web page. Examine the web logs; you may be surprised where your visitors come from. Basically, create your own personal honeypot. You get the idea.

[Doc 1/69]

This looks like the best place for this post - admin please move if I'm wrong.

Reading this today got me thinking about my info on the net and after using the peekyou site mentioned above I hit peoplefinders.com. Scary how much info is available - anyone interested here's a link to the page on how to be removed from their database.

http://www.peoplefinders.com/help/article.aspx?topic=privacy4

[jrc]

I'm in the process of removing years of content from sites like Internet Archive and let me tell y'all, it's no easy task. I'm getting to the point that all searches for my name just turn up other people and soon there will be no trace of my face. I'm glad I got on this! Also for those with Facebook accounts, make sure your privacy settings are maxed out and don't allow your profile to be indexed by search engines... or just follow the above advice and get rid of it.

Thanks for the heads up on removing all this stuff.

[Pete]

Looks like some post-college adults are finding out "what happens at college stays at college" ain't true and are trying to change history.

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/05/14/alumni-look-to-erase-search-results-from-college-papers/

[rm1249]

I recently got an email saying someone has added me as a friend on a social networking site, of which I am not a member. Apparently this site creates profiles for people by gathering info from the web. Mylife.com has a photo of me and probably more information that I cannot see. Is anyone else familiar with this site, it seems like I cannot delete my information without becoming a member, which costs $30. Anyone know a work around for mylife.com or other similar sites?
thanks,
rm1249

[Team Sergeant]

I recently got an email saying someone has added me as a friend on a social networking site, of which I am not a member. Apparently this site creates profiles for people by gathering info from the web. Mylife.com has a photo of me and probably more information that I cannot see. Is anyone else familiar with this site, it seems like I cannot delete my information without becoming a member, which costs $30. Anyone know a work around for mylife.com or other similar sites?
thanks,
rm1249

Unless you are a member you "cannot" view any pictures on this website or view anyone's profile. Just sign off and try.

It ain't this website their getting their information from.....

If the info was taken from this website (like your intro) I will go after them, unless you posted an intro somewhere else. What is written on this website is "owned" by us and none other.

[The Reaper]

By "this site" I think he meant the site that his friend listed him on, not PS.com.

TR

[incarcerated]

Russian Firm Buys a Stake in Facebook

By CLAIRE CAIN MILLER
Published: May 26, 2009

A Russian investment firm, Digital Sky Technologies, has invested $200 million in the social networking company Facebook in return for a 1.96 percent stake, the two companies said Tuesday....

Digital Sky Technologies is a prominent Internet investor in Russia and Europe, where it owns stakes in Web companies that account for 70 percent of all page views on the Russian-speaking Internet, according to the firm.

Its portfolio companies include two large social networks, Forticom and vKontakte, and a Russian Web portal, Mail.ru....

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/27/technology/internet/27facebook.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1243379036-YXPQ3EJsgl3lf5i9Ow6D/g

[Richard]

$100M = 1%! Holy crap! :eek:

Richard's $.02 :munchin

[rm1249]

By "this site" I think he meant the site that his friend listed him on, not PS.com.

TR

That is correct, thanks for the clarification TR.

I will post results if and when I am able to remove the info.

Thanks,
rm1249

[pope81018]

But do not expect to ever be selected for any covert or clandestine missions, period. (It ain’t going to happen when millions already know your face and name.)

Oh, and those classified counter-terrorist units people whisper about. Forget it, not a snowball's chance in hell of you joining after posting your face and name all over the internet.


Would this hold true 10 years down the road? I've had an account for about two years on Facebook. This doesn't sound promising.

[The Reaper]

Once something goes up on the net, it is out there forever.

The best you can do now is to attempt some damage control.

TR

[pope81018]

I best get started then. Correct me if I am wrong, but are you saying that whenever I updated my profile (status, added a picture, etc) that a file was created, freezing that exact "frame" of data onto a file?

Do you think it would be better to just delete my account, or should I take away information, wait a bit, and then delete?

Sometimes I wish I was born in the '70s.

[Surgicalcric]

1) I best get started then. Correct me if I am wrong, but are you saying that whenever I updated my profile (status, added a picture, etc) that a file was created, freezing that exact "frame" of data onto a file?

2) Do you think it would be better to just delete my account, or should I take away information, wait a bit, and then delete?

3) Sometimes I wish I was born in the '70s.



1) Yes

2) Delete the account, as we have told countless others.

3) Why? There are people from my generation that have no idea what personal security is and even many who do blow it off...

Crip

[Team Sergeant]

Would this hold true 10 years down the road? I've had an account for about two years on Facebook. This doesn't sound promising.

You plan on having plastic surgery? Or was this just a stupid question?

Team Sergeant

[Slantwire]

but are you saying that whenever I updated my profile (status, added a picture, etc) that a file was created, freezing that exact "frame" of data onto a file?

At the risk of rehashing the point of this thread:

Yes, there are archives of old internet data, available on the internet. (Shocking, I know.)

Even without that: Right-click, Save. A person who later removes data from the internet can't do anything about an enemy's local files.

[pope81018]

3) Why? There are people from my generation that have no idea what personal security is and even many who do blow it off...

That is a good point. What I meant by my comment was today, a large amount of teenagers are relying on technology for social interaction. Texting and social networks have taken away the amount of personal interaction that, from what I've heard, seemed to be present in most social relationships in the past.

[Surgicalcric]

...That is a good point. What I meant by my comment was today, a large amount of teenagers are relying on technology for social interaction. Texting and social networks have taken away the amount of personal interaction that, from what I've heard, seemed to be present in most social relationships in the past.

Being stupid transcends generations... Its poor judgment thats the issue, not technology; thats an excuse for being able to not thinking things through. Use your head and stop following after whats "cool" or "in" or whatever they say these days.

Now go do PT.

Crip

[pope81018]

Its poor judgment thats the issue, not technology; thats an excuse for being able to not thinking things through.

I completely agree.

Use your head and stop following after whats "cool" or "in" or whatever they say these days.

I have been, but there is always room for improvement. Off I go.

[tai]

I recently got an email saying someone has added me as a friend on a social networking site, of which I am not a member. Apparently this site creates profiles for people by gathering info from the web. Mylife.com has a photo of me and probably more information that I cannot see. Is anyone else familiar with this site, it seems like I cannot delete my information without becoming a member, which costs $30. Anyone know a work around for mylife.com or other similar sites?
thanks,
rm1249

I'm in the process of scrubbing my web presence and I also found a listing on MyLife. It contained very little personal information, just my nickname and a picture, but that's more than enough. I called their customer support line and they removed the listing. (888) 704-1900

Those types of sites phish information from the public domain and aggregate it for their own commercial interests. The best "work around", as has been mentioned here numerous times, is to remove your information from the public domain. PeekYou.com is another one of these sites. They will remove your information if you email them from this link: http://www.peekyou.com/privacy

Thanks IRONRKSNS for providing that link on removing your personal info from the net. While most of the information I've found is phone book-type stuff, it's good to know how to get unlisted. Cheers!

[VoTrooper99]

I have a question that appeals to the broader sense of Team Sergeant's point.

I am considering an enlistment into 19th Group (NG). I'm a cop on the civilian side. This occasionally lands my name and sometimes photograph in the paper and/or television news. Those papers/stations have websites. Further, on occasion my name makes it's way onto Craig's List in the "Rants and Raves" section because a local scumbag did not like my "customer service".

Being in the NG Groups, could this be a hindrance?

[Dozer523]

I have a question that appeals to the broader sense of Team Sergeant's point.

I am considering an enlistment into 19th Group (NG). I'm a cop on the civilian side. This occasionally lands my name and sometimes photograph in the paper and/or television news. Those papers/stations have websites. Further, on occasion my name makes it's way onto Craig's List in the "Rants and Raves" section because a local scumbag did not like my "customer service".

Being in the NG Groups, could this be a hindrance? I'd worry more about Angie's List. those b!tcHe$ can be so petty. Smile and say "please". "Ma'am" and "thank you" on those traffic stops!:D

[SkiBumCFO]

sorry this is my first post and hope I dont screw it up. followed this thread and completely agree with the quiet professionals. I am long retired from the SF & Spook world both active and reserve but I was actually thinking the other day that if i was needed i would be worthless because i have a facebook page and because i run a public company just about my whole life is public. By the way a Russian Private Equity Firm invested in Facebook and those russian companies always seem to have some old connection to the former three letter organization that still seems to run the country. cant say i am very comfortable with them owning a piece of facebook.

[Surgicalcric]

sorry this is my first post and hope I dont screw it up...

Too late. Please read/re-read your registration email and follow the instructions with regards to posting an intro in the "Intro" thread.

With regards to other intel agents; Americans would be surprised, or maybe not at all, over who uses the "stay in touch with friends' sites to build data on people...

Crip

[hackattack]

I am in the process of deleting and doing damage control. lucky for me, when my name is searched, there are several other people with my name who pop up instead of me. My question would be, does it help my case that I haven't mentioned anything about my 18x on those social networking sites?

The only place I have mentioned it was a message board for football fans where I was asking people who had been 18 series about the job and how it is. At the time I didn't think about the implications what so ever (not smart, I know) and had a pic of me with a coach on there (without my name listed). On the same site, a couple of current 18 series guys (and SEALs) have their pictures on there. My guess is that they are just being dumb?

[Triman19]

Outstanding post! Thank you for being so informative. I never had a myspace account but I have deleted my facebook. I did not have any pictures on my FB nor any personnal information. It was just a great way to stay connected with guys down range. One question though, how secure is data on this site? Thank you again for the post.

[Books]

Triman19 and everyone else with questions about cyber-security:

How do I put this? Work with this assumption: If you type it, they can read it. True, there are various levels of security, but nothing is so super-ninja-secret-cyber-safe that it cannot be hacked.

Wireless connections? I personally can download open-source programs to hack those and at my education level, I think electricity is magic.

256K encryption? Do you seriously think "no such agency" hasn't figured that one out?

What you ultimately have is "acceptable risk" or "reasonably secure." I understand that there are levels of security at this site, enough so that I logged on and became a member. But it isn't secure and not a government system (red side) and therefore, we do not discuss operational, sensitive or classified topics here.

What is my security posture? I make purchases online, do my banking, and send emails to friends and family with a little bit of faith that my transactions are secure. I also check my bank account balance to make sure no one has pilfered my info. I don't do Facebook or Twitter or any of the other craziness out there. I shred paper and receipts with personally identifying information (but I don't burn it). I'm a big fan of "Moscow Rules."

When I get really paranoid, I pay in cash.

HTH.

Books

[greyshade]

Erasing yourself from the internet is impossible, especially for me. I have a unique last name, and just searching my last name will link up a lot of personal information. Such as, my family and friends posting pictures of me, family reunion notices, blogs my grandfather wrote, even seven year old high school athletic stats. I had to do a bit of searching to find all of that but, some of it was readily assessable on the first google page.

A motivated person could learn much more about me that I would want them to know. This has always troubled me. Worst part is I see no viable solution, other than to legally adopt a new name.

[civil]

Found this, should help you find if there is a pic linked to your name or whatever search paramaters you enter

http://www.facesaerch.com

[VB Xray]

I am Deleting my Myspace account as we speak. I have my facebook settings maxed out. And i have done a complete google search and myface search and nothing has come up. Could this be because I did not spell my last name correctly when i joined the sites on purpose? And is this a good thing?

Ryan

[Nightfall]

I can't speak from the SF aspects, however I can say this, if you put it out there, it can be found. I used to be a P.I. combined with my background as an S.E. this was one of the first things I searched. As far as others searching and keeping things secure, I shall attempt to paraphrase something an unnamed hacker once said when asked how to keep a computer totally secure: "Unplug it, bury it in the ground, and MAYBE I wouldn't be able to get into it." In my limited time at the State Dept. I felt good to find that they followed that to the letter. :)

[Ryanr]

Very valid points all around in this thread. Are there any special security precautions users of PS.com should take to ensure our anonymity while on this site?

[Team Sergeant]

Very valid points all around in this thread.

Just to toss my two cents onto the pile, I don't really believe that maintaining a diary of your favorite breakfast foods on sites like Facebook or Twitter or MySpace would really add much to the mountain of information that is undoubtedly already available on you.

Names and pictures can all be easily obtained from any sort of educational institution you've attended, since the 'security' of student information is almost always a joke, or any of a number of different avenues. Even major financial institutions are victim to massive security leaks, and they certainly have much more information than a site like Facebook does. Your information is definitely vulnerable somewhere.

The real risk that Team Sergeant brings up is publicly discussing your involvement in any way with SF, whether it's current service, enlistment under 18x, etc. I very much agree with his assessment, and the other points already listed in this thread. This site in particular is probably a gold mine of interesting information -- as I guarantee that a significant percentage of users signed up under email addresses that would personally identify them, even if their user names do not. Why comb through 300,000,000 Facebook users when you could just dissect the 15,000 on PS.com? Obtaining those 15,000 email addresses would be child's play for anyone experienced with that sort of thing. Just off the top of my head, the obvious points of vulnerability are:


Softlayer, PS.com's host. It's a large company.
PS.com is using a slightly outdated version of PHP.
I bet PS's version of Apache isn't quite up to date.
PS is using a publicly available forum framework. Vulnerabilities?
Any admin can probably mine email addresses, from which you could get much more information, are all moderators using secure computers? (Probably not; there are enough that one of them definitely has some minor issue.)
Hilliker Technologies is the designer / "host" (they're not really the host) / administrator of this site, can you say definitely that there are no vulnerabilities there?


Just a quick side note that I found tangentially related, the administrative contact for this site is one J.P.H. -- and his personal phone number, resume (which includes details of service, current employer, current work location and description), email address, town of residence, and probably much more are all available right now on the internet. Now, he's past his SF career and put his information online voluntarily, but it's an interesting example of how a site like PS can lead to much more 'real' data.

Anyhow. You get my point. Facebook should probably be avoided, but so should the rest of the internet. Thanks for the interesting post, it's given me plenty to consider.

Best regards.

Ryan

Ryan,

You're dead wrong on a few things and I'm not going to point them all out to you. You might want to shut up before you insert your foot further down your throat.

This entire website to include the "dedicated server" it's hosted on, is owned and operated by SF soldiers.

While the computers of all the Special Forces Administrators may not be "protected" inorder to gain access to them you would be literally taking your life into your hands.

I am hiding in plain sight, and if it's anyone desire to come for me they might want to read up on my past experiences and don't come light.;)

Team Sergeant

[Blitzzz (RIP)]

TS, You know many here will also have your 6. Dave

[Ryanr]

Ryan,

You're dead wrong on a few things and I'm not going to point them all out to you. You might want to shut up before you insert your foot further down your throat.

This entire website to include the "dedicated server" it's hosted on, is owned and operated by SF soldiers.

While the computers of all the Special Forces Administrators may not be "protected" inorder to gain access to them you would be literally taking your life into your hands.

I am hiding in plain sight, and if it's anyone desire to come for me they might want to read up on my past experiences and don't come light.;)

Team Sergeant

Duly noted. Thank you Team Sergeant.

[Surgicalcric]

Dont have a link for it, as it was sent to me by my S2.

Something to think about nonetheless......

Commentary: Social sites risk security clearance
By GREG RINCKEY
November 02, 2009

If you hold a security clearance or if you ever want to apply for one, be mindful of your postings and contacts online, particularly on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. These sites pose risks to gaining and keeping a security clearance.

Question 14 of the National Agency Questionnaire (SF-86) asks for names of your relatives and associates. The term “associate” is defined as any foreign national that you or your spouse “are bound by affection, obligation, or close and continuing contact.”

Continuing contact with a foreign national used to include a clear exchange between both parties — visits outside the country, mail, phone calls or e-mails. Social networking sites bring a gray area into the definition of an associate and continuing contact. Your list of friends on Facebook may include foreign nationals, or you could have foreign followers on your Twitter page. Is giving
a foreign national access to your social networking page as a “friend” considered close and continuing contact even if you never directly message them? Is having access to your updated information enough for a person to be considered an associate? Unfortunately, this uncharted territory can ensnare a potential or current clearance holder.

Foreign intelligence agencies use social networking sites. They have been known to befriend Facebook users who automatically accept their “friend” requests.

I had a client who lost her security clearance after using an online chat room. She was seeking advice on how to beat a computer game while attending a gaming convention. The “gaming” experts she chatted with online were foreign intelligence agents working out of China.

You may want to eliminate any foreign nationals from your social networking sites to eliminate any potential security concerns. A clearance holder also needs to be responsible for what he or she posts online. These sites are considered “open source intelligence,” and mining information from them is simple. Anyone can do a Web search and bring up postings from Twitter and
Facebook. Technology companies are developing more sophisticated ways to monitor social networking sites, offering the ability to scan millions of online social conversations at once. Intelligence agencies around the world are taking advantage of this technology to gain valuable information.

Social networking sites are creating new territory for many workplaces. Just this month a Staten Island, N.Y., judge had to be transferred to a new location because of his Facebook use. The judge reportedly used the site to update his whereabouts and post pictures of his courtroom. The Pentagon also is weighing if troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan should continue to have social networking access.

When dealing with a security clearance, keep in mind the HAM principles: honesty, accuracy and mitigation. Honesty and accuracy are the most important factors when filling out an SF-86 questionnaire. It is always better to report a contact that could jeopardize your clearance, than to appear evasive or dishonest.

During an interview following your SF-86 submission, you’ll be asked more questions about your background. Discuss any concerns with an attorney before the interview. An attorney’s advice can give you a better chance at reversing an adverse determination. If a disqualifying condition is found, you want to show that the issue is not as severe as it appears. If you receive a letter of intent to deny or revoke a clearance, you could have as little as 45 days to respond. The appeal must be a thorough brief that emphasizes mitigating factors and cites relevant legal precedents.

Greg Rinckey, a former military and federal attorney, is managing partner of Tully Rinckey PLLC, a law firm with offices in Albany, N.Y., and Washington.
E-mail your legal questions to askthelawyer@federaltimes.com.

[Ret10Echo]

Facebook blocks deletion service

Social network giant Facebook has blocked a website from accessing people's profiles in order to delete their online presence.

The site, Web 2.0 Suicide Machine, offers to remove users from Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Myspace.

It does not delete their accounts but changes the passwords and removes "friend" connections.

Seppukoo.com, which offers a similar service, was issued with a "cease and desist" letter by Facebook in 2009.

Netherlands-based moddr, behind Web 2.0 Suicide Machine, says it believes that "everyone should have the right to disconnect".

However Facebook says that by collecting login credentials, the site violates its Statement of Rights and Responsibilities (SRR).

"Facebook provides the ability for people who no longer want to use the site to either deactivate their account or delete it completely," the company said. "We're currently investigating and considering whether to take further action."

Web 2.0 Suicide Machine claims that it only stores the name, profile picture and "last words" of its clients, who can choose to watch their friend/follower connections disappear in real time as their profiles unlink from others.

"Seamless connectivity and rich social experience offered by web 2.0 companies are the very antithesis of human freedom," says a statement on its website.

The machine operates on an adjusted Linux server which runs open source software Apache 2.

Seppukoo.com, which offers to remove people from Facebook, received a letter from the social network site's lawyers in December 2009.

Once they have deleted their friends Seppukoo clients can choose an image instead of their profile picture to remain as a "memorial" .

The site is run by a group called Les Liens Invisibles, and describes itself as an artistic project. The name Seppukoo is taken from a Japanese ritual form of suicide known as Seppuku.

In November 2009 the group orchestrated the "virtual suicide" of a group of fictitious Facebook profiles set up in the names of deceased well-known figures including Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison and Virginia Woolf.

[DevilSide]

I couldn't find myself in the archive, but I never had my real name on there and maybe a few pictures, and not much of info about myself. This still a big threat? If so I would like help in correcting the problem if anyone can assist.

[Edgerusher71]

I'm resurrecting a couple month old thread but I have a question about the SF recruiting teams that have facebook pages. I deleted my facebook long ago but I read this sticky again and re-activated to see if there were any SF pages, of which there were 10. Many of these pages contain discussions on how to prepare, advice, etc. There are even dates,times of SFAS briefings and even some pictures granted the names aren't tagged. Is it still a hindrance to have a facebook considering the somewhat concerted effort on the part of SORB to reach out those possible candidates who have facebook accounts? Before you are active duty/SF qualified anyway I searched and found TS' recommendation against the active guys creating one.

[spherojon]

...to see if there were any SF pages, of which there were 10. Many of these pages contain discussions on how to prepare, advice, etc. There are even dates,times of SFAS briefings and even some pictures granted the names aren't tagged. Is it still a hindrance to have a facebook considering the somewhat concerted effort on the part of SORB to reach out those possible candidates who have facebook accounts? Before you are active duty/SF qualified anyway I searched and found TS' recommendation against the active guys creating one.
I looked into it and found this page...
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fort-Bragg-NC/US-Army-Special-Forces-Command-Airborne/69284653610?ref=ts&v=wall#!/pages/Fort-Bragg-NC/US-Army-Special-Forces-Command-Airborne/69284653610?v=info&ref=ts

Hope I am not stepping on any toes here.

[the cpl]

I'm reeinlisting in the army after i got out on a med board and the recruiter is saying I will have to lose a rank to come in and do the 18x program. Is this true I thought when I reeinlist i keep my rank because it was a med board not ETS. Can someone please respecfuly help me. Even if I do have to lose a rank Im still doing the 18x program I have rehabilitated for 2 years just to get a chance to do this.

[Surgicalcric]

This thread is about the possible risk internet connections sites pose to SF and SF candidates, not about MEB's, reductions in rank on reenlistment, or fitness for SF.

You need to do more reading and less posting.

Crip

[the cpl]

You know I just had a simple question if you don't know the answer fine but don't be UN professional. I was just looking for info from more expierianced veterans who have been through SF.

[geardo211]

The reduction in rank is due to the amount of time that you were separated from the Army, not the fact that you have an 18X contract or were med-boarded. Please be mindful of the fact that we are not QP's, and are therefore guests here. I haven't been to SFAS, but I do know that in my unit giving attitude to someone who is offering constructive criticism will get you nowhere. You may be encountering many of the members here farther down the pipeline, and I doubt you want this to be their first impression of you.

[Surgicalcric]

You know I just had a simple question if you don't know the answer fine but don't be UN professional. I was just looking for info from more expierianced veterans who have been through SF.

Had you taken the time to familiarize yourself with our board, as the rules and stickies suggest, before jumping in with both feet it may not have been necessary to correct you in the first place.

Furthermore, I would heed geardo's advice... Remember you came to us, not the other way around...


Crip

[Surgicalcric]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/05/14/facebook_trust_dumb/

Loveable Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg called his first few thousand users "dumb fucks" for trusting him with their data, published IM transcripts show. Facebook hasn't disputed the authenticity of the transcript.

Zuckerberg was chatting with an unnamed friend, apparently in early 2004. Business Insider, which has a series of quite juicy anecdotes about Facebook's early days, takes the credit for this one.

The exchange apparently ran like this:

Zuck: Yeah so if you ever need info about anyone at Harvard

Zuck: Just ask.

Zuck: I have over 4,000 emails, pictures, addresses, SNS

[Redacted Friend's Name]: What? How'd you manage that one?

Zuck: People just submitted it.

Zuck: I don't know why.

Zuck: They "trust me"

Zuck: Dumb fucks

The founder was then 19, and he may have been joking. But humour tells you a lot. Some might say that this exchange shows Zuckerberg was not particularly aware of the trust issue in all its depth and complexity.

Facebook is currently in the spotlight for its relentlessly increasing exposure of data its users assumed was private. This is nicely illustrated in the interactive graphic you can find here or by clicking the piccie to the right.

In turn, its fall from grace has made backers of the 'social media' bubble quite nervous. Many new white collar nonjobs created since the mid-Noughties depend on the commercial value of your output, and persona;l information. (Both are invariably donated for free).

But there's a problem.

Much of the data created by Web2.0rrhea is turning out to be quite useless for advertisers - or anyone else. Marketeers are having a harder time justifying the expenditure in sifting through the Web 2.0 septic tank for the odd useful nugget of information.

Facebook's data stash is regarded as something quite special. It's authenticated against a real person, and the users tend to be over 35 and middle class - the ideal demographic for selling high value goods and services. In addition, users have so far been 'sticky' to Facebook, something quite exceptional since social networks fall out of fashion (Friends Reunited, Friendster) as quickly as they attract users.

Facebook also has something else going for it - ordinary users regard it as the natural upgrade to Hotmail. In fact, once the crap has been peeled away, there may not be much more to Facebook than the Yahoo! or Hotmail Address Book with knobs on: the contact book is nicely integrated, uploading photos to share easier, while everything else is gravy. Unlike tech-savvy users, many people remain loyal to these for years.

[LarryW]

the cpl:

Advice fm an old non-SF fellow, if you're willing to listen. When the SF pros on this site give you advice it is refreshingly without varnish or butter. You're learning, and you shouldn't give up on yourself or the site, but thank these SF teachers in the process.

Now, pick up your ruck and walk...

[the cpl]

I appoligize for not famaliarizing myself with the sit more. Thanks for the wisdom I don't take criticism well but I guess I should get used to it I thank you for it.

[ZonieDiver]

I appoligize for not famaliarizing myself with the sit more. Thanks for the wisdom I don't take criticism well but I guess I should get used to it I thank you for it.

Unsought advice:

I don't know a lot, but I do know this: if you have ANY hope of completing the LONG journey to being a QP, which begins - not ends - when you are assigned to a team, you had best learn quickly the art of not only accepting, but seeking out, criticism.

[Edgerusher71]

Adding to the wonderfully expansive world of facebook both of those other units are featured on multiple pages, including a rather popular page on Ranger Haney's book.


Oh Boy...:rolleyes:

I retract questioning how parasitic this site can be.

[Surgicalcric]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/12/technology/personaltech/12basics.html?_r=2&emc=eta1


Web Photos That Reveal Secrets, Like Where You Live
By KATE MURPHY
Published: August 11, 2010

When Adam Savage, host of the popular science program “MythBusters,” posted a picture on Twitter of his automobile parked in front of his house, he let his fans know much more than that he drove a Toyota Land Cruiser.

Adam Savage, host of the popular science program “Mythbusters,” posted a picture on Twitter of his automobile parked in front of his house that was geotagged.
Multimedia

How Geotags Unlocked a 'MythBuster's' Location

The ICanStalkU.com Web site provides step-by-step instructions for disabling geotagging on the iPhone.

Instructions on how to disable the geotagging feature of an Android phone.
Embedded in the image was a geotag, a bit of data providing the longitude and latitude of where the photo was taken. Hence, he revealed exactly where he lived. And since the accompanying text was “Now it’s off to work,” potential thieves knew he would not be at home.

Security experts and privacy advocates have recently begun warning about the potential dangers of geotags, which are embedded in photos and videos taken with GPS-equipped smartphones and digital cameras. Because the location data is not visible to the casual viewer, the concern is that many people may not realize it is there; and they could be compromising their privacy, if not their safety, when they post geotagged media online.

Mr. Savage said he knew about geotags. (He should, as host of a show popular with technology followers.) But he said he had neglected to disable the function on his iPhone before taking the picture and uploading it to Twitter.

“I guess it was a lack of concern because I’m not nearly famous enough to be stalked,” he said, “and if I am, I want a raise.”

Still, Mr. Savage has since turned off the geotag feature on his iPhone, and he isn’t worried about the archived photo on Twitter because he has moved to a new residence.

But others may not be so technologically informed or so blasé about their privacy.

“I’d say very few people know about geotag capabilities,” said Peter Eckersley, a staff technologist with the Electronic Frontier Foundation in San Francisco, “and consent is sort of a slippery slope when the only way you can turn off the function on your smartphone is through an invisible menu that no one really knows about.”

Indeed, disabling the geotag function generally involves going through several layers of menus until you find the “location” setting, then selecting “off” or “don’t allow.” But doing this can sometimes turn off all GPS capabilities, including mapping, so it can get complicated.

The Web site ICanStalkU.com provides step-by-step instructions for disabling the photo geotagging function on iPhone, BlackBerry, Android and Palm devices.

A person’s location is also revealed while using services like Foursquare and Gowalla as well as when posting to Twitter from a GPS-enabled mobile device, but the geographical data is not hidden as it is when posting photos.

A handful of academic researchers and independent Web security analysts, who call themselves “white hat hackers,” have been trying to raise awareness about geotags by releasing studies and giving presentations at technology get-togethers like the Hackers On Planet Earth, or Next HOPE, conference held last month in New York.

Their lectures and papers demonstrate the ubiquity of geotagged photos and videos on Web sites like Twitter, YouTube, Flickr and Craigslist, and how these photos can be used to identify a person’s home and haunts.

Many of the pictures show people’s children playing in or around their homes. Others reveal expensive cars, computers and flat-screen televisions. There are also pictures of people at their friends’ houses or at the Starbucks they visit each morning.

By downloading free browser plug-ins like the Exif Viewer for Firefox (addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3905/) or Opanda IExif for Internet Explorer (opanda.com/en/iexif/), anyone can pinpoint the location where the photo was taken and create a Google map.

Moreover, since multimedia sites like Twitter and YouTube have user-friendly application programming interfaces, or A.P.I.’s, someone with a little knowledge about writing computer code can create a program to search for geotagged photos in a systematic way. For example, they can search for those accompanied with text like “on vacation” or those taken in a specified neighborhood.

“Any 16 year-old with basic programming skills can do this,” said Gerald Friedland, a researcher at the International Computer Science Institute at the University of California, Berkeley. He and a colleague, Robin Sommer, wrote a paper, “Cybercasing the Joint: On the Privacy Implications of Geotagging,” which they presented on Tuesday at a workshop in Washington during the Advanced Computing Systems Association’s annual conference on security.

The paper provides three examples of so-called cybercasing that use photos posted on Twitter and Craigslist and a homemade video on YouTube.

By looking at geotags and the text of posts, Mr. Sommer said, “you can easily find out where people live, what kind of things they have in their house and also when they are going to be away.”

“Our intent is not to show how it’s done,” he said, “but raise awareness so people can understand their devices and turn off those options if they want to.”

ICanStalkU.com, developed by the security consultants Larry Pesce of the NWN Corporation in Waltham, Mass., and Ben Jackson of Mayhemic Labs in Boston, uses a more direct approach to warning about the potential dangers of geotags. The site displays a real-time stream of geotagged photos posted on Twitter; the person who posted the photo also gets a notification via Twitter.

“The reaction from people is either anger, like ‘I’m going to punch you out,’ or ‘No duh, like I didn’t already know that’ or ‘Oh my God, I had no idea,’ ” Mr. Pesce said.

In the latter category was Cristina Parker of El Paso, who sells appliances part-time at Kmart and also manages social media for small companies. ICanStalkU.com notified her last week that a photo she had posted on Twitter of her Chihuahua, Zipp, also revealed where she lived.

“I immediately tweeted back to find out what I can do about it,” said Ms. Parker. The site sent her a Web link to instructions on how to turn off the geotag function on her LG Ally smartphone. “It’s definitely good to know for me personally and because of my social media work, too,” she said

Because of the way photographs are formatted by some sites like Facebook and Match.com, geotag information is not always retained when an image is uploaded, which provides some protection, albeit incidental. Other sites like Flickr have recently taken steps to block access to geotag data on images taken with smartphones unless a user explicitly allows it.

But experts say the problem goes far beyond social networking and photo sharing Web sites, regardless of whether they offer user privacy settings.

“There are so many places where people upload photos, like personal blogs and bulletin boards,” said Johannes B. Ullrich, chief technology officer of the SANS Technology Institute, which provides network security training and monitors the Internet for emerging security threats.

Protecting your privacy is not just a matter of being aware and personally responsible, said Mr. Sommer, the researcher. A friend may take a geotagged photo at your house and post it.

“You need to educate yourself and your friends but in the end, you really have no control,” he said, adding that he was considering writing a program to troll the Internet for photos with geotags corresponding to users’ home addresses.

“I’m beginning to think there may be a market for it.”

A version of this article appeared in print on August 12, 2010, on page B6 of the New York edition.

[Intel_Geek]

It's possible I missed the answer on how SF Recruiting on FB is somehow not a direct contradiction to the advice/information provided in the initial post.

Worded differently: There are several SF Recruiting pages on FB. Is this a problem with regards to the initial public service announcement?

-mbs

[SFSalRet08]

I appoligize for not famaliarizing myself with the sit more. Thanks for the wisdom I don't take criticism well but I guess I should get used to it I thank you for it.

The cpl,
This will be straight and to the point. YOU are a guest, and jumping back at a fellow QP is not only going to draw unwanted attention, is going to get you in the Ban-User area. You are luck that the Team Sergeant or Reaper have not jumped on you yet. And I say yet, because I am sure as soon as they read this your toast. As far as you not taking “criticism well”, you better start growing that thick skin. I do not know your background or what units you have served in, but when you go (if you go) to SFAS you are going to be criticized all day long. And trust me no one is going to be say “Good job candidate”. So like you were told. More reading and less posting. In saying that I DO NOT expect any comment from you on my post to you. Take it as GOOD advice! Pick your ruck up Jonny and start rucking.

[Number5]

I deleted my facebook many, many months ago... or so I thought. Sure enough after reading this thread, I go to log back in and it reactivates instantly, I had no clue they kept everything up there for good. So I went along and untagged myself from every pic, deleted all of my pics, and deleted all info on there. Luckily I never used my real first name so no searches for that come up. But a big thanks for posting this as I was not aware of facebook's evil ways.

Thanks all

[Number5]

I agree that Internet dependency is rising each generation, sadly.. It is a strange thought that SF forces years ago were unseen, and that [possibly] future SF forces have their faces posted all over the web for everyone. It would either bring extremely less recruits on, or increase the military's ability to control/delete content for oncoming recruits.

One thing on recent ads I've seen (which I don't know if it's a correct statistic or not) Is that 1 out of 5 relationships start online.... Online!!! Holy **** what are we doing?!? I think the Internet craze needs to be tuned down a bit..

[Intel_Geek]

Net is social. As in, a society. Not too long ago in industrialized countries relationships were starting at church. AT CHURCH?!?! Or through our parents. Society is society. As long as those pixels eventually turn into actual people, I'm pretty open about it. Now...here on this side of the Pacific, there are jokers pushing to marry computer programs and cartoon characters. I'm sitting next to a woman right now that has been unhappily married for 25 years in an arranged marriage. Call me somewhere between Nu Skool and Old School, but hooking up via the Net and hooking up via someone else's arrangement is equally screwy.

I think, as per OPSEC--that good old buzzword--it's only an issue on those 'social network' sites if someone can connect the dots from there to your [past, present or future] operational capacity. In fact, there are plenty of books, and tidbits in here, that even a mediocre geek like me can [and have] use[d] to find out who you are...and where you've been. These networking sites are just another tool to add to your, or anyone's, Open Source Tool Box. Not saying you should embrace these sites and go out and start collecting friends you'll never meet in real life, but this type of convo starts to tread close to bar codes and bio-chips.

And I'm still curious about how exactly SOCOM units are using these aforementioned "OPSEC-breaching" social networking sites as a first-line recruiting tool. I have mailed a few of these 'users' at their .mils and have yet to receive a reply...whereas, jokers posting up on the user's FB page get a reply literally within hours.

I may not be understanding that 'linkable' participation on these sites doesn't necessarily preclude you from things like going 18X or getting a clearance, but *will* necessarily preclude you from certain high speed long-hair options down the line. But then again, I happen to know a few of those types who are online and chatting. So, that preclusion might not be the case, in reality. Or...maybe we're back to making sure that there is no traceable, linkable chain between your trigger time and your chatting time. Posting your QC pics or your daily SITREP from the 'box so your fam can know what's going on really shows just a complete lack of [military] intelligence or responsibility on your part. Or even posting up your USAF PAST or SEAL Challenge results. That sh*t is just a complete lack of foresight on your part.

Doesn't mean you should stop posting on FB, as far as I can tell, and it doesn't mean those sites are to blame for anything other than being a forum for people's idiocy, SOF personnel or otherwise. You should always watch what you say, on the net or in the DFAC. Blaming technology for Charlie's ability to now better track and exploit said idiocy is only going to result in a weird perspective. And this little problem of people posting all their pre-selection info is only really going to result in smarter people hitting the Pipeline or BUD/S or SFAS. Am I missing how that's not a win?

Respectfully,

mbs

[SF_BHT]

Intel_Geek

Net is social. As in, a society. Not too long ago in industrialized countries relationships were starting at church. AT CHURCH?!?! Or through our parents. Society is society. As long as those pixels eventually turn into actual people, I'm pretty open about it. Now...here on this side of the Pacific, there are jokers pushing to marry computer programs and cartoon characters. I'm sitting next to a woman right now that has been unhappily married for 25 years in an arranged marriage. Call me somewhere between Nu Skool and Old School, but hooking up via the Net and hooking up via someone else's arrangement is equally screwy.

Drink less Post your bottom line up front. Go back and learn how to write and quit all of this run on babble.

I think, as per OPSEC--that good old buzzword--it's only an issue on those 'social network' sites if someone can connect the dots from there to your [past, present or future] operational capacity. In fact, there are plenty of books, and tidbits in here, that even a mediocre geek like me can [and have] use[d] to find out who you are...and where you've been. These networking sites are just another tool to add to your, or anyone's, Open Source Tool Box. Not saying you should embrace these sites and go out and start collecting friends you'll never meet in real life, but this type of convo starts to tread close to bar codes and bio-chips.

Why help the opposition. Good old human to human interaction is way better than cyber babble. You write to some hot chick and her name is really Bob and he is setting in his house naked and dreaming about you. Get in-touch with reality.

And I'm still curious about how exactly SOCOM units are using these aforementioned "OPSEC-breaching" social networking sites as a first-line recruiting tool. I have mailed a few of these 'users' at their .mils and have yet to receive a reply...whereas, jokers posting up on the user's FB page get a reply literally within hours.

You may not get a reply if you wrote to them like your post here.

I may not be understanding that 'linkable' participation on these sites doesn't necessarily preclude you from things like going 18X or getting a clearance, but *will* necessarily preclude you from certain high speed long-hair options down the line. But then again, I happen to know a few of those types who are online and chatting. So, that preclusion might not be the case, in reality. Or...maybe we're back to making sure that there is no traceable, linkable chain between your trigger time and your chatting time. Posting your QC pics or your daily SITREP from the 'box so your fam can know what's going on really shows just a complete lack of [military] intelligence or responsibility on your part. Or even posting up your USAF PAST or SEAL Challenge results. That sh*t is just a complete lack of foresight on your part.

Are you sure?

Doesn't mean you should stop posting on FB, as far as I can tell, and it doesn't mean those sites are to blame for anything other than being a forum for people's idiocy, SOF personnel or otherwise. You should always watch what you say, on the net or in the DFAC. Blaming technology for Charlie's ability to now better track and exploit said idiocy is only going to result in a weird perspective. And this little problem of people posting all their pre-selection info is only really going to result in smarter people hitting the Pipeline or BUD/S or SFAS. Am I missing how that's not a win?

It is not weird from where we sit. As stated before why help the opposition. If you feel so pressed to cyber post go for it but look for another job..... Smarter is in the eyes of the beholder. I have known so many "Smart People" that could not even change a blown light switch. Does that make him dumb "No" just massively challenged. SF is looking for well rounded people.

Now go back to hitting on that depressed married lady and DO MORE SEARCHES and a WHOLE LOT LESS POSTING.

PS: Learn how to write. That run on post hurt my head....... :(

[Intel_Geek]

Bottom line at the top: Man, you really just missed about everything I wrote. Go back and try that again, please.

Sorry to hurt your head. Reading can do that. Attention to detail is really a ball buster sometimes.

Drink less? Are you serious? That's what you got out of this? I don't drink much, especially at work. Too bad you were somehow led to believe that.

'Post' should not be capitalized, but I do get your point. I posted my "bottom line" up front. First sentence; as a reply to the post above mine. I appreciate your writing suggestions, but I disagree with them. There were no grammatically incorrect or inappropriate sentences. Unless you consider sentence structure beyond Subj/Verb/Obj inappropriate. I was not briefing, I was writing. HUGE difference...

But, I bet this has nothing to do with your or my command of the English language, does it?

I completely agree with your assessment of human-to-human contact. In fact, I greatly prefer it. And I'm not much of a "chatter". I don't tend to take for granted anything, really, much less information about someone online. For all I know, you are Sayid and the border you are south of has a -stan in the title, but I trust this site enough not to share much about myself or make too many assumptions about your status.

I also agree that you should never do anything to help the opposition. You may have missed that part when I said you were an idiot for sharing that kind of information on the Net (an unsecured source). You should check that part again. I was under the impression, perhaps falsely (given then initial post), that anyone being a member of any of those sites would or could be disallowed from attending courses like SFAS. So, if you *did* post on those sites, you would not be attending said course. Not following basic instructions is a pretty big disqualifier, I'd say--and not a very "smart" decision. And not posting your info online, it seems, is a pretty big basic instruction. If I am to understand the initial post.

I would hope that recruiters could deal with all levels of literacy, BHT, but I would welcome more English suggestions on your part. I always see room for improvement.

Yes. I am [u]quite sure. Are you?

As I stated before--rather clearly--you should never help the opposition. You should never post your personal info online. Up to and including anything and everything regarding your "[past, present and future] operational capacity". *I* do not feel so pressed to "cyber post", and therefore don't. And I am not looking for a job, but thank you.

WHOLE LOT LESS POSTING

Yes, my 4 post count (5 now, you shoulda caught that one) would show how little reading I do here and how much I run my mouth. :rolleyes: That standard substandard reply doesn't really fit here, though I do understand you think you disagree with my post. If you actually read it--and I know it was a bit verbose--you would see that we are more or less on the same page here, BHT.

PS: Cut and paste less. Re-reading my stuff really hurt my head...

[LongWire]

You both bring up valid points and agree upon more than you may realize.

Geek........Verbal (as in typed) abuse of QP's (FOG) here is not tolerated. Tread a finer line. I'm not amused and Im sure the Reaper or TS will be less so themselves.
Consider yourself warned........


Thanks for your service Gents..........

[1stindoor]

Bottom line at the top: Man, you really just missed about everything I wrote. Go back and try that again, please.

Sorry to hurt your head. Reading can do that. Attention to detail is really a ball buster sometimes.

...

This just became my new favorite thread...I suspect it's about to get a bit more interesting.

[The Reaper]

Bottom line at the top: Man, you really just missed about everything I wrote. Go back and try that again, please.

Sorry to hurt your head. Reading can do that. Attention to detail is really a ball buster sometimes.

Drink less? Are you serious? That's what you got out of this? I don't drink much, especially at work. Too bad you were somehow led to believe that.

'Post' should not be capitalized, but I do get your point. I posted my "bottom line" up front. First sentence; as a reply to the post above mine. I appreciate your writing suggestions, but I disagree with them. There were no grammatically incorrect or inappropriate sentences. Unless you consider sentence structure beyond Subj/Verb/Obj inappropriate. I was not briefing, I was writing. HUGE difference...

But, I bet this has nothing to do with your or my command of the English language, does it?

I completely agree with your assessment of human-to-human contact. In fact, I greatly prefer it. And I'm not much of a "chatter". I don't tend to take for granted anything, really, much less information about someone online. For all I know, you are Sayid and the border you are south of has a -stan in the title, but I trust this site enough not to share much about myself or make too many assumptions about your status.

I also agree that you should never do anything to help the opposition. You may have missed that part when I said you were an idiot for sharing that kind of information on the Net (an unsecured source). You should check that part again. I was under the impression, perhaps falsely (given then initial post), that anyone being a member of any of those sites would or could be disallowed from attending courses like SFAS. So, if you *did* post on those sites, you would not be attending said course. Not following basic instructions is a pretty big disqualifier, I'd say--and not a very "smart" decision. And not posting your info online, it seems, is a pretty big basic instruction. If I am to understand the initial post.

I would hope that recruiters could deal with all levels of literacy, BHT, but I would welcome more English suggestions on your part. I always see room for improvement.

Yes. I am [u]quite sure. Are you?

As I stated before--rather clearly--you should never help the opposition. You should never post your personal info online. Up to and including anything and everything regarding your "[past, present and future] operational capacity". *I* do not feel so pressed to "cyber post", and therefore don't. And I am not looking for a job, but thank you.

Yes, my 4 post count (5 now, you shoulda caught that one) would show how little reading I do here and how much I run my mouth. :rolleyes: That standard substandard reply doesn't really fit here, though I do understand you think you disagree with my post. If you actually read it--and I know it was a bit verbose--you would see that we are more or less on the same page here, BHT.

PS: Cut and paste less. Re-reading my stuff really hurt my head...

Intel Geek:

Verbal attack on a QP?

I take it that you are no longer in need of membership on this forum?

Feel free to take a few minutes and think this through before you reply.

TR

[SF_BHT]

Geek

First young man you are a guest here and I am one of the most tolerant QP's here.

Have you read all the sticky notes and rules yet? I take it that you have as you have just started to attack a QP on the board.

I will tell you I have more education under my belt than you probably will ever have and I was trying to write near your level since you seem to not understand the Basic English language.

You seem to have a really high opinion of your self but I will tell you if any of my children were rambling like you did I would have had to knock them back into reality.

Ref you're posting, I suggested that you stop Posting and do more research. If you read a lot more here you might have answered what ever circular question you were trying to ask.

I knew how many post you have done and I have read all of them prior to posting.

Look at it this way when you enter someone's home you should be polite and watch your actions and words. Well you have entered my house and basically Sh&t on the floor and told everyone so what. We are all brothers here and this is our house not yours

You have brought your self to the attention of my Brothers and they have given you some good guidance like I did. If I was a knee jerk reaction kind of person I would just ask the Admin's to kick your little arrogant self absorbed posting self off the board. But I will not. I prefer to see if you can grasp your situation and I will wait to see if you should stay or go.

PS: Cut and paste less. Re-reading my stuff really hurt my head...

????? That was almost the last straw….:munchin TS/TR the ball is in your court…..

[Intel_Geek]

BHT, I am sorry. Please accept my sincerest apologies for disrespecting you and for not having represented myself and my thoughts better. I am grateful to have been allowed into your house. I am sorry I shit on your floor. I would never just say "so what" about something like that and would be grateful for the opportunity to clean that shit up and buy you a beer (figuratively) for having been such a jackass in your home, among your brothers, as a guest.

I apologize to you, and your brothers.

-----

My comments really were intended to be much more light-hearted than they came across. That is very hard to convey via text format--a reason I prefer person to person communication when at all possible. That last comment was meant to show that I agree that I wrote too much. I know I am verbose. I should have kept my points and my questions much more terse and to the point.

I do not have a high opinion of myself. Especially in comparison to others. I was in no way intending to challenge your level of education, though I know I did so. I would never, based on my writing, ever think highly enough of myself to think that I am arrogant. I am truly sorry that I came across that way.

I apologize, sincerely, for coming across as abusive. Confrontational, yes (only with the eye roll). Abuse--actual or perceived--was in no way intended. I would like to respectfully ask--whether I am a member here or not--that you please go back and re-read my post through the lens of me *not* taking myself too seriously or thinking less of others, and me actually being more conversational. It is important to me that you understand I was not meaning to disrespect you. I am sorry I took for granted that certain obvious core elements of my personality can never be conveyed textually without using several of those damned smilies. Which I tend to try to refrain from.

The Reaper (and Team Sergeant), I understand I have crossed a line. I understand you have ROEs here that I have breached through perceived disrespect and irresponsible posting. I accept responsibility for what I have done. I appreciate your time and all of the information I have gotten from this site. It has been vastly educational and has allowed me a greater level of understanding.

LW, I completely agree that we [BHT and I] agree on most of our points. I also apologize to you and the other QPs in this forum, my lack of responsibility in choosing the wording of my textual reply to match my much more jovial attitude about this exchange is inexcusable.

My intent was to have been conversational. I would never, under any circumstances think that I know more than the Professionals on this board, or assume that I have anything very relevant to add. I respectfully enter the door to this site almost daily. I have nothing but great respect for anyone who adds to this site. I have not [added to this site].

ALCON: I'm a jackass. I'm sorry.

Sincerely,

mbs

[SF_BHT]

Intel_Geek

Thank you for this post and people step on it and sometimes if given the chance they work their way out of the hole that they have dug and jumped into.

After a long week of hard but rewarding work I have thought about this and decided to respond.

I hope that you are sincere about what you sent via PM and have posted here. Think of this as a baseball game you have 2 strikes and it is the bottom of the 9Th.

I hope that you recover and work your way back. I have seen many in the same situation and the majority have not.

I am wiling to wait and see. :munchin

Good Luck

[Intel_Geek]

Roger, BHT. I've spit on my hands and am watching that ball...

[Peregrino]

BHT, I am sorry. Please accept my sincerest apologies for disrespecting you and for not having represented myself and my thoughts better. I am grateful to have been allowed into your house. I am sorry I shit on your floor. I would never just say "so what" about something like that and would be grateful for the opportunity to clean that shit up and buy you a beer (figuratively) for having been such a jackass in your home, among your brothers, as a guest.

I apologize to you, and your brothers.

-----

My comments really were intended to be much more light-hearted than they came across. That is very hard to convey via text format--a reason I prefer person to person communication when at all possible. That last comment was meant to show that I agree that I wrote too much. I know I am verbose. I should have kept my points and my questions much more terse and to the point.

I do not have a high opinion of myself. Especially in comparison to others. I was in no way intending to challenge your level of education, though I know I did so. I would never, based on my writing, ever think highly enough of myself to think that I am arrogant. I am truly sorry that I came across that way.

I apologize, sincerely, for coming across as abusive. Confrontational, yes (only with the eye roll). Abuse--actual or perceived--was in no way intended. I would like to respectfully ask--whether I am a member here or not--that you please go back and re-read my post through the lens of me *not* taking myself too seriously or thinking less of others, and me actually being more conversational. It is important to me that you understand I was not meaning to disrespect you. I am sorry I took for granted that certain obvious core elements of my personality can never be conveyed textually without using several of those damned smilies. Which I tend to try to refrain from.

The Reaper (and Team Sergeant), I understand I have crossed a line. I understand you have ROEs here that I have breached through perceived disrespect and irresponsible posting. I accept responsibility for what I have done. I appreciate your time and all of the information I have gotten from this site. It has been vastly educational and has allowed me a greater level of understanding.

LW, I completely agree that we [BHT and I] agree on most of our points. I also apologize to you and the other QPs in this forum, my lack of responsibility in choosing the wording of my textual reply to match my much more jovial attitude about this exchange is inexcusable.

My intent was to have been conversational. I would never, under any circumstances think that I know more than the Professionals on this board, or assume that I have anything very relevant to add. I respectfully enter the door to this site almost daily. I have nothing but great respect for anyone who adds to this site. I have not [added to this site].

ALCON: I'm a jackass. I'm sorry.

Sincerely,

mbs

:munchin

[Masochist]

I came across this video today while viewing another YouTube video linked on here. It serves as an excellent example of many of the points TR, TS and others have expressed regarding personal security and the internet. See how many things the poster does in this video alone that makes her a target.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii7eYSjyuJs

[lindy]

I came across this video today while viewing another YouTube video...

spricket24

Rigggghhhhhtttttt. :D

[Masochist]

spricket24

Rigggghhhhhtttttt. :D

I stand by my original statement. There may have been a different reason I clicked on it, but how I came across it is as stated. :D

[CW1287]

Gentlemen,

Facebook now has an application that tracks where you login in at. I have found this to be problematic with my young soldiers as they login frequently and it logs where they are at. I am sure Mr. Taliban loves to surf face book and see where soldiers are login in at in Afghanistan. One of my SGTs was able to take this login information and plot it on Google Earth and get an exact location where the person logs in at. Just for your SA.

LT W

[Mustang Man]

I have given thought of making a Facebook. I would of liked to make one to stay in the loop of things happening in my school and around my peers. It's aggravating not knowing what's going on simply because I don't have a Facebook to stay in the loop of things. Unfortunately being a highschool student, it is almost impossible to avoid all the drama that comes with a Facebook, one of the reasons I choose not to make one. In this day and age it seems to me a lot of relationships and friendships are started through a computer screen, instead of actual interaction. I guess some guys are to nervous to approach that pretty girl face to face, to scared to pick a fight with someone face to face, to lazy or lack real social skills to meet and get to know a person face to face and must share with the world about how drunk their going to be for the upcoming weekend. Seems like we need a Facebook for all these things. On a good note, Facebook can be good to stay in contact and find long lost friends and family members. Though in my view I see more cons instead of pros. All in all, I would just like to thank TS for starting this thread and discussion, as it is something every aspiring QP and Myspace, Twitter, Facebook ect. member should read. With that being said, I doubt I'll be making a Facebook anytime soon.

[Romeo23]

In this day and age it seems to me a lot of relationships and friendships are started through a computer screen, instead of actual interaction. I guess some guys are to nervous to approach that pretty girl face to face, to scared to pick a fight with someone face to face, to lazy or lack real social skills to meet and get to know a person face to face and must share with the world about how drunk their going to be for the upcoming weekend. [COLOR="Magenta"]Seems like we need a Facebook for all these things.[ /COLOR]

Welcome to the technological generation. The kids now a days were born into it and - for some - that is all they really know. Unfortunate IMO. :boohoo

Use technology wisely and cautiously.

R

[Dozer523]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii7eYSjyuJs There are not enough convents in the world to fix this.

[Zethra]

Reading this thread just makes me glad I dropped social networking long ago. I was never a very social person anyway. On the plus side I've yet to find any "open" info on myself on the net yet. Hopefully I can keep it that way. Now, back to those push ups.

[wannabeDC]

This question may be slightly off topic, but I feel it is still relevant enough to post here... Should I avoid telling co-workers/peers/fellow students that I am going SF? If you should avoid posting it on the internet, it seems like it stands to reason that you should avoid telling people in real life. I'm not talking about close friends, or family members, just acquaintances, and people you occasionally talk to...

[wannabeDC]

Anybody have any ideas regarding this?

[Kyobanim]

Anybody have any ideas regarding this?

Yes, stop posting and start reading.

[head]

Wow, how did I miss Intel Geek? That was entertaining, glad he found something to stick in his mouth for a while.

[Ambush Master]

This question may be slightly off topic, but I feel it is still relevant enough to post here... Should I avoid telling co-workers/peers/fellow students that I am going SF? If you should avoid posting it on the internet, it seems like it stands to reason that you should avoid telling people in real life. I'm not talking about close friends, or family members, just acquaintances, and people you occasionally talk to...

Anybody have any ideas regarding this?

YES!!

Once YOU attain QP Status, feel free to "modestly" inform others as to your "Status", but with a great deal of restraint!! Until you get there, YOU AIN'T!!!

Remember the old saying.....All a steer can do is TRY!!!

Later
Martin

[bigtime1158]

on facebook i found this link http://www.facebook.com/help/contact.php?show_form=delete_account to permantly delete your account. if you just use the deactivate account button your account will still be there forever. apparently this link will get rid of it forever. hope this helps and/or does what it says it will. but at this point most of the damage would already be done.

[bigtime1158]

also with some more research i found out that reputation.com offers the service of removing all of your personal information from all of these websites. the great part is that they do it for free for active duty military using this link http://www.reputation.com/?code=officers2009

i called the customer service line and they emailed me that link. for badge number just type "us military"

[MadDogG]

But I don't know, we'll see.

So, having your face plastered all over facebook, and myspace, and twitter, and blah, blah, any number of countless social networking sites is a bad thing. I get that absolutely. But I don't understand how the whole t.v. thing works out. Years ago, I remember a show on the History channel about U.S.Army Special Forces, (it was great by the way!), and it had to do with the Robin Sage Excersise. Now I haven't been able to find that video in digital format or vcr, for that matter, and would love to have it, but the point is, I still remember what several of those guys look like. I am relatively sure I would recognize at least 1, 2 maybe even 3 of them in a line up. 2 for sure. Especially since I have found a few clips of that video showing at least one of those individuals. Now those guys can't all be retired, or well....dead, for lack of a better easier way to say it guys. SOrry. I figure that's probably a bad subject. But you understand my point. Then you have shows like Surviving the Cut....come on! Not all of those gentlemen I am sure wanted there faces on t.v., but I can't help but think maybe they didn't have much say in the matter. I don't know how that works. My point being, I can download surviving the cut, I can memorize a few faces if I so chose to do so. Not all of those guys will make it through the q, but if I have a computer, I could conceivably get there pictures and start putting them into the hands of my guys,( if I was a foreign intelligence officer...I would imagine), and just keep a look out for them or troll the internet. RIght? So those guys on these t.v. shows, are they purposefully screwed out of ever doing the more clandestine stuff? I mean, I am just one man, but millions watch those types of shows, and I would think that would give them more exposure. So I guess my question now that I have finally gotten it out is, "ARE THEY SCREWED? And was it purposefully done? OR are they just actors, portraying real people?" I mean I would think that would pose a greater threat to national security than who Donny was screwing last night at the freaking bar being posted on facebook. Also, what about these guys who's family members are bringing video camera's to the GB graduation, and then posting not only video of the guys graduation, but his full name!!!!???? NOW THAT TO ME!! IS just wTF??? ANd the National Geographic programs, and sixty minutes where oh yeah they are wearing sunglasses, right, a good imagination and you can pretty much yeah, who didn't know that batman was actuall bruce wayne in the sixties t.v. series right? Well, I mean this is kind of a serious question I think, because if you don't have a choice to be on one of these shows....then does it really matter? And if you do have a choice....what qp would volunteer for that knowing the danger involved? Wow, sorry guys this has lead me down a path of a lot of questions. Troubling ones for me. Thanks in advance, for everything so far, and for an answer if you choose to give me one. I am really confused on this part of the whole opsec stuff. It's not clicking to me how facebook vs. being plastered on t.v. would be any different. Why would the military allow it if it would limit some of there soldiers capacity to do there job? I know that the SF community is pretty small comparatively. The loss of a few good men, for a pr opportunity just doesn't quite.....well sit well, but it doesn't quite sound like something that would be done either. Help me understand guys. Please.

[Dusty]

But I don't know, we'll see.

So, having your face plastered all over facebook, and myspace, and twitter, and blah, blah, any number of countless social networking sites is a bad thing. I get that absolutely. But I don't understand how the whole t.v. thing works out. Years ago, I remember a show on the History channel about U.S.Army Special Forces, (it was great by the way!), and it had to do with the Robin Sage Excersise. Now I haven't been able to find that video in digital format or vcr, for that matter, and would love to have it, but the point is, I still remember what several of those guys look like. I am relatively sure I would recognize at least 1, 2 maybe even 3 of them in a line up. 2 for sure. Especially since I have found a few clips of that video showing at least one of those individuals. Now those guys can't all be retired, or well....dead, for lack of a better easier way to say it guys. SOrry. I figure that's probably a bad subject. But you understand my point. Then you have shows like Surviving the Cut....come on! Not all of those gentlemen I am sure wanted there faces on t.v., but I can't help but think maybe they didn't have much say in the matter. I don't know how that works. My point being, I can download surviving the cut, I can memorize a few faces if I so chose to do so. Not all of those guys will make it through the q, but if I have a computer, I could conceivably get there pictures and start putting them into the hands of my guys,( if I was a foreign intelligence officer...I would imagine), and just keep a look out for them or troll the internet. RIght? So those guys on these t.v. shows, are they purposefully screwed out of ever doing the more clandestine stuff? I mean, I am just one man, but millions watch those types of shows, and I would think that would give them more exposure. So I guess my question now that I have finally gotten it out is, "ARE THEY SCREWED? And was it purposefully done? OR are they just actors, portraying real people?" I mean I would think that would pose a greater threat to national security than who Donny was screwing last night at the freaking bar being posted on facebook. Also, what about these guys who's family members are bringing video camera's to the GB graduation, and then posting not only video of the guys graduation, but his full name!!!!???? NOW THAT TO ME!! IS just wTF??? ANd the National Geographic programs, and sixty minutes where oh yeah they are wearing sunglasses, right, a good imagination and you can pretty much yeah, who didn't know that batman was actuall bruce wayne in the sixties t.v. series right? Well, I mean this is kind of a serious question I think, because if you don't have a choice to be on one of these shows....then does it really matter? And if you do have a choice....what qp would volunteer for that knowing the danger involved? Wow, sorry guys this has lead me down a path of a lot of questions. Troubling ones for me. Thanks in advance, for everything so far, and for an answer if you choose to give me one. I am really confused on this part of the whole opsec stuff. It's not clicking to me how facebook vs. being plastered on t.v. would be any different. Why would the military allow it if it would limit some of there soldiers capacity to do there job? I know that the SF community is pretty small comparatively. The loss of a few good men, for a pr opportunity just doesn't quite.....well sit well, but it doesn't quite sound like something that would be done either. Help me understand guys. Please.

It's S.O.P to have your features altered via plastic surgery after you're filmed. That's the reason our medics receive such extensive training, and why our wives sometimes don't recognize us after a mission.

[scooter]

It's S.O.P to have your features altered via plastic surgery after you're filmed. That's the reason our medics receive such extensive training, and why our wives sometimes don't recognize us after a mission.

Ah yes.... I remember my first facial reconstruction like it was yesterday. Or maybe it was yesterday. I forget. The whole thing...changes..... a man. You understand.

[Dusty]

Ah yes.... I remember my first facial reconstruction like it was yesterday. Or maybe it was yesterday. I forget. The whole thing...changes..... a man. You understand.

Are you sure you're not talking about your vulvodynia treatment? :D

[scooter]

Are you sure you're not talking about your vulvodynia treatment? :D

Hey, I got sand in there. Not funny, Ok?

[Dusty]

Hey, I got sand in there. Not funny, Ok?

:D

[lonetlan]

Good thing about having a "one off" name; I took care of this pretty easily.

Bad thing about having a "one off" name; anything I've done is easy to find.

Better to be in the dark looking into the light, than being in the light looking in the dark.

Thanks TS and the others.

[MVP]

I remember the Stars and Stripes coming to Tolz in the 80's wanting to do a story and shoot photos of an A-Team. The CSM (former Son Tay raider) tasked HHC, S/S got photos of one of the lesser known A-Teams composed of the admin specialists, cooks and mechanics. One nice off-shoot was that the HHC team was more diverse than those in A, B, or C companies.

MVP

[Surgicalcric]

I remember the Stars and Stripes coming to Tolz in the 80's wanting to do a story and shoot photos of an A-Team. The CSM (former Son Tay raider) tasked HHC, S/S got photos of one of the lesser known A-Teams composed of the admin specialists, cooks and mechanics. One nice off-shoot was that the HHC team was more diverse than those in A, B, or C companies.

MVP

Its (not so) funny how times and things change.

Today team guys have their picture posted, in uniform all over the place like its the thing to do. I suppose 10 years of mostly DA centric operations will make one lose focus on what SF was originally stood up to do and how having one's face or other distinguishing features and markings visible over a wide array of mediums could affect that mission...

[1stSFGmechanic]

These threads work. Just deleted my facebook.

[ZonieDiver]

Ah yes.... I remember my first facial reconstruction like it was yesterday.

Can't tell if you are being serious here Sir or not (as no pink font), although I am guessing this post is sarcasm...? Assuming so, would those QPs shown on television be unable to go on covert missions and thus have been inadverdently cheated by the filming of their training...?

Without revealing too many "secret squirrel" techniques, the procedures used by SF Medics to complete the surgeries briefly mentioned by Dusty were "outed" in the movie "Face Off" - with Travolta and Slater. (I went in thinking it was a hockey movie.)

Not only does "exchanging faces" with another result in a new face, complete with hairstyle, etc. - it also miraculously gives you the body of the other person. Thereby, each person is totally different, and unrecognizable - even to their spouse.

(Pink font not used because I reallllllllllly didn't think it was needed.)

[Surgicalcric]

...would those QPs shown on television be unable to go on covert missions and thus have been inadverdently cheated by the filming of their training...?

The Army doesnt have a database where they track all the guys who have had their faces plastered across various media outlets IOT disqualify them from certain missions. However an SF soldier who knows his face has been scattered across the www should advise those making covert assignments that him being placed in such a position could jeopardize the mission and the other men associated with it.

Its all fun and games until you are trying to convince someone in a foreign country that you are someone other than who they have managed to find photos/video of on the net... ;)

my .02...

Crip

[Diablo]

will really make maintaining your www PERSEC a near impossibility. Give google another few years (or months) and the ability to search by using an image of a face will become as common as today's text searches.
But maybe we have found a use for the posers- a disinfo tool!

[greenberetTFS]

Hey, I got sand in there. Not funny, Ok?[/B]

scooter,

Vulvodynia is a chronic pain syndrome that affects the vulvar area and occurs without an identifiable cause or visible pathology categorized in the ICD-9 group 625—specifically ICD-9 625.7..........:rolleyes: which is for pain and other disorders of the female genital organs..........:confused:

Hmmmmmm..........:eek:

Big Teddy :munchin

[PedOncoDoc]

scooter,

Vulvodynia is a chronic pain syndrome that affects the vulvar area and occurs without an identifiable cause or visible pathology categorized in the ICD-9 group 625—specifically ICD-9 625.7..........:rolleyes: which is for pain and other disorders of the female genital organs..........:confused:


Bid Teddy-

I'm fairly certain Scooter caught the meaning and was playing along. The only problem is - the sand would be an identifiable cause. In the ICD-10, this would be 30.854a, "Superficial foreign body of vagina and vulva, initial encounter" for the first offense, 30.854d for subsequent encounters - with 30.854s thrown in for the pain being a sequela from said foreign body.

The ICD-10 is quite specific, it even has different codes for "pecked by chicken" and "struck by chicken".

[greenberetTFS]

Doc,

I'm fairly certain Scooter caught the meaning and was playing along...;) I know he did,I just love putting him on.....:D ;)

Big Teddy :munchin

[1stindoor]

Without revealing too many "secret squirrel" techniques, the procedures used by SF Medics to complete the surgeries briefly mentioned by Dusty were "outed" in the movie "Face Off" - with Travolta and Slater. (I went in thinking it was a hockey movie.)

Not only does "exchanging faces" with another result in a new face, complete with hairstyle, etc. - it also miraculously gives you the body of the other person. Thereby, each person is totally different, and unrecognizable - even to their spouse.

(Pink font not used because I reallllllllllly didn't think it was needed.)

The procedure was soooooo good in fact that Slater came out looking like Nicholas Cage. LOL:D

[greenberetTFS]

*

[ZonieDiver]

The procedure was soooooo good in fact that Slater came out looking like Nicholas Cage. LOL:D

My bad! I've gotten those two confused since "Windtalkers"!:D It was Travolta-Slater in "Broken Arrow".

[Xamine]

Without revealing too many "secret squirrel" techniques, the procedures used by SF Medics to complete the surgeries briefly mentioned by Dusty were "outed" in the movie "Face Off" - with Travolta and Slater. (I went in thinking it was a hockey movie.)
Not only does "exchanging faces" with another result in a new face, complete with hairstyle, etc. - it also miraculously gives you the body of the other person. Thereby, each person is totally different, and unrecognizable - even to their spouse.
(Pink font not used because I reallllllllllly didn't think it was needed.)

I always thought you guys just put on a pair of these...

[GreatfulService]

It's S.O.P to have your features altered via plastic surgery after you're filmed. That's the reason our medics receive such extensive training, and why our wives sometimes don't recognize us after a mission.

OMFG, you guys f'n crack me up. Sometimes I wonder if I'm really researching my new career or just looking for the next post that makes me almost shit myself laughing. I'm glad there is no "like" option, I'd have FTFSI by now just liking all your smartass remarks - it really is dumbfounding how easily butt hurt many of my peers get at the gentlest swat graciously given by their idols for general stupidity & laziness.

So laughing aside, i'd like to address the issue that has motivated me to waiste your precious time with my ignorant post.

Honestly it f'm keeps me up at night worrying that I won't get selected and I constantly obsess about this. Even when I'm nailing my broad, i find my mind wandering, what will I do if I don't pass the security clearance? What will I do if they fail me in selection (I'll never quit, fucking shoot me, fire me or tell me to go away).

My security clearance is where I think I'm most likely to fuck myself. My credit is shit, I owe the tax man, I have unpaid traffic tix...
and to make matters even worse, like the vast majority of my fellow dumb ASSEtS I have a fb profile, in fact I have 4, and I'm so incredibly dense, that one of these WAS actually listed in my real name for a short while, it even had real pics of me AND I had liked some US Army pages, including the 75 Regiment's page
(can someone please pass the katana now, this humiliation is extreme)
BUT I found this forum and through it I was able to wipe away just a little bit of that stupid from my eyes, just enough so I can make out this big fucking brick wall I just built myself to get in the way of my future, and now I'm looking around for a sledgehammer...

I think I've found one and I'd like the advice of the American Gods who are kind enough to donate their time and wit to idiots like me.

A. I'm changing my name, why the fuck not, I've already selected one of the most common names in America and it only costs about $250 to get the job done here in TX.

B. I'm pricing computer programmers to make me a bit of software which registers and updates bogus FB accounts for me - the idea is I want to create a cloud of bullshit tying my existing internet photos to spurious identities. I was so fucking stupid to like that FB ranger page for about 24 hours (SO stupid, that's tantamount to saying - "I want to be an SF soldier one day!" thus, tying me to our enemies' "usual suspects" database, which they could set up servers to run through data of traffic cams etc to look for face matches of suspected SF candidates. Short of going 'fight club' on FB's server farm (just a joke guys) there is no realistic way for me to undo the existing damage. BUT, I can create a cloud of bullshit to smoke screen it. I've already saved every image of me that I was ever stupid enough to post on any of my FB accounts, I never tag myself fortunately, but now I tag myself everywhere, with the wrong photos of course. Phase 2 (currently in the bidding stage) is the near effortless creation of hundreds, maybe thousands of fake FB identities using those photos, all of these identities will be of peace loving pussies who are afraid to fight. This might be overkill, but I can't help it, I've got an obsessive personality when it comes to something I feel strongly about and there is nothing I want more than my fair chance to earn my place among my heroes.

C. I am considering plastic surgery for a couple reasons. One of which is the PERSEC & my future deployability in clandestine missions (please give me a crack at the PRC) and the other is utility. Unfortunately I'm white, which makes me stick out like a sore thumb in most of the regions of the world where I could be the most use, but I could get my skin dyed, nose widened & learn Pashtu to be a little more useful to my country.

ps.
To my fellow asses, if B is successful I really don't feel yall should re-invent the wheel, I will find a way to distribute said application to you anonymously upon request in PM.

To the Gods whose footsteps I attempt to follow, feel free to rip on me, my skin is think and your humor fucking hilarious.

[Irishsquid]

Reading this made me think again of something that has bothered me for years. When I was on AD, I attended the FFL Commando Course. Apparently, everyone decided it would be a great idea to have Combat Camera come out and take a bunch of pictures of those of us going through the course.

Fast Forward a couple of years, and someone pointed out that they had found my pictures from the course on several other websites. I contacted site owners and got the pictures taken down from a few, but other site owners basically told me "Hey...they mil put them on defenselink and said I could use them...so piss off."

They were first posted 6 years ago, and I can still quickly and easily find them searching on Google.

In other words, it's not just your facebook, myspace, whatever...others will throw your picture out for public consumption, and there's sometimes not a damn thing you can do about it.

[voxtel]

OMFG, you guys f'n crack me up. Sometimes I wonder if I'm really researching my new career or just looking for the next post that makes me almost shit myself laughing. I'm glad there is no "like" option, I'd have FTFSI by now just liking all your smartass remarks - it really is dumbfounding how easily butt hurt many of my peers get at the gentlest swat graciously given by their idols for general stupidity & laziness.

So laughing aside, i'd like to address the issue that has motivated me to waiste your precious time with my ignorant post.

Honestly it f'm keeps me up at night worrying that I won't get selected and I constantly obsess about this. Even when I'm nailing my broad, i find my mind wandering, what will I do if I don't pass the security clearance? What will I do if they fail me in selection (I'll never quit, fucking shoot me, fire me or tell me to go away).

My security clearance is where I think I'm most likely to fuck myself. My credit is shit, I owe the tax man, I have unpaid traffic tix...
and to make matters even worse, like the vast majority of my fellow dumb ASSEtS I have a fb profile, in fact I have 4, and I'm so incredibly dense, that one of these WAS actually listed in my real name for a short while, it even had real pics of me AND I had liked some US Army pages, including the 75 Regiment's page
(can someone please pass the katana now, this humiliation is extreme)
BUT I found this forum and through it I was able to wipe away just a little bit of that stupid from my eyes, just enough so I can make out this big fucking brick wall I just built myself to get in the way of my future, and now I'm looking around for a sledgehammer...

I think I've found one and I'd like the advice of the American Gods who are kind enough to donate their time and wit to idiots like me.

A. I'm changing my name, why the fuck not, I've already selected one of the most common names in America and it only costs about $250 to get the job done here in TX.

B. I'm pricing computer programmers to make me a bit of software which registers and updates bogus FB accounts for me - the idea is I want to create a cloud of bullshit tying my existing internet photos to spurious identities. I was so fucking stupid to like that FB ranger page for about 24 hours (SO stupid, that's tantamount to saying - "I want to be an SF soldier one day!" thus, tying me to our enemies' "usual suspects" database, which they could set up servers to run through data of traffic cams etc to look for face matches of suspected SF candidates. Short of going 'fight club' on FB's server farm (just a joke guys) there is no realistic way for me to undo the existing damage. BUT, I can create a cloud of bullshit to smoke screen it. I've already saved every image of me that I was ever stupid enough to post on any of my FB accounts, I never tag myself fortunately, but now I tag myself everywhere, with the wrong photos of course. Phase 2 (currently in the bidding stage) is the near effortless creation of hundreds, maybe thousands of fake FB identities using those photos, all of these identities will be of peace loving pussies who are afraid to fight. This might be overkill, but I can't help it, I've got an obsessive personality when it comes to something I feel strongly about and there is nothing I want more than my fair chance to earn my place among my heroes.

C. I am considering plastic surgery for a couple reasons. One of which is the PERSEC & my future deployability in clandestine missions (please give me a crack at the PRC) and the other is utility. Unfortunately I'm white, which makes me stick out like a sore thumb in most of the regions of the world where I could be the most use, but I could get my skin dyed, nose widened & learn Pashtu to be a little more useful to my country.

ps.
To my fellow asses, if B is successful I really don't feel yall should re-invent the wheel, I will find a way to distribute said application to you anonymously upon request in PM.

To the Gods whose footsteps I attempt to follow, feel free to rip on me, my skin is think and your humor fucking hilarious.

Great thought process. You can never be too careful. I would also suggest murdering everyone who has ever seen you in person. That's the only way to be sure. Start with your family and neighbors.

[MR2]

My security clearance is where I think I'm most likely to fuck myself.

Actually, I think you just fucked yourself with that post.

[Surgicalcric]

Actually, I think you just fucked yourself with that post.

Totally agree.

GreatfulService: I can say without a shadow of a doubt that after reading your post, you are not not the guy the SF Regiment needs or is looking for. Thank you for your service but find somewhere else to do it. This will not be a good fit for you or us.

[The Reaper]

Let this be a lesson on how NOT to make 18X announcements.

TR

[Jerry4463]

Thinking of joining Special Forces?



You had a web page and now removed it, you might still be able to join…but forget the classified missions or covert unit assignments. Again, it ain’t going to happen.





Team Sergeant,

Is this to say that if at any point someone had a Facebook or Myspace page (in high school for example) that they will never be eligible for secret or top secret missions, and/or units carrying said missions?

[Team Sergeant]

Team Sergeant,

Is this to say that if at any point someone had a Facebook or Myspace page (in high school for example) that they will never be eligible for secret or top secret missions, and/or units carrying said missions?

You read what I wrote and I'm sure you understand it.

To add to what I wrote "facial recognition searches" are on the horizon. Soon you'll be able to upload a picture of your high school girlfriend and say "search" and the search engine will recover any and all pictures and videos of that individual.

That's going to be a game changer for a whole lot of people who thought no one would ever see little Susie Fudpacker having sex with six guys and one of them uploaded the video to the internet.

Once your face is on the internet it never comes off, even if you delete it, it's already archived somewhere. And that "hostile intelligence service" we spoke of, they know it.

[Mustang Man]

Pretty scary what the terms and agreements say behind this application. Apparently people downloading this are either are to lazy to read the terms or just don't care or a combination of both. According to the new app it states you must download this app in order to IM your Facebook friends from your mobile. Be sure to read up on the several bullet points in the link that touch up on what this app is apparently capable of doing to your mobile.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2014/08/04/yes-the-facebook-messenger-app-requests-creepy-invasive-permissions-but-so-does-every-other-app/

[HQ6]

It is interesting how the intell community changes through the years. It used to be that you shouldn't have social media accounts. Now, it is considered a red flag if you don't have some kind of social media. It is about being the grey man.

Not having FB when the rest of your circle (family, friends, ect.) have one draws a lot of attention particularly if you have any documents back ground in IT (kind of hard to explain your lack of social media and computer use when your undergrad degree in information technology is sitting on the university website). The idea is to have social media but be very strict about what you put out there and keep in mind that nothing is 100% locked down or able to be 100% deleted.

[PokemonMaster]

It is interesting how the intell community changes through the years. It used to be that you shouldn't have social media accounts. Now, it is considered a red flag if you don't have some kind of social media. It is about being the grey man.

Not having FB when the rest of your circle (family, friends, ect.) have one draws a lot of attention particularly if you have any documents back ground in IT (kind of hard to explain your lack of social media and computer use when your undergrad degree in information technology is sitting on the university website). The idea is to have social media but be very strict about what you put out there and keep in mind that nothing is 100% locked down or able to be 100% deleted.

Great post.

[funnyman]

It is interesting how the intell community changes through the years. It used to be that you shouldn't have social media accounts. Now, it is considered a red flag if you don't have some kind of social media. It is about being the grey man.

Not having FB when the rest of your circle (family, friends, ect.) have one draws a lot of attention particularly if you have any documents back ground in IT (kind of hard to explain your lack of social media and computer use when your undergrad degree in information technology is sitting on the university website). The idea is to have social media but be very strict about what you put out there and keep in mind that nothing is 100% locked down or able to be 100% deleted.

Yes, not having a social media profile can set you apart unless you're an 80 year old grandmother (I'm guessing the algos have age considered). So have your FB profile, but assume anything you post can be seen by anyone at any time. Or, just post a bunch of disinfo, or contradictory info to make it interesting.
Why let the government have all the fun?

[Bechorg]

Word on the street from one of my guys going through basic training as a prior service 18X- 18X's are not showing up to basic ready to go. 92 18Xs started in his company and it is now down to 65 left after only six weeks. Everything from PT failures to tobacco.

Take this as a wake up call. Basic training is no longer a give me. If you have signed an 18X contract you better show up to basic near 280 PT score, and you better be doing your pre-ship checklists. They will find out if you don't. The recruiter can only take so much of the blame for making you ready to ship- it is up to you to get where you need to be physically and mentally.

[Bechorg]

An update from an 18X currently at Airborne School:

First week of Airborne school complete. Utterly embarrassing for a lot of people. We had people here, who already went to selection, got selected and washed out of ABN school due to PT test failure. Just embarrassing. Hand quite a few 18Xs got kicked out due to failure to comprehend training. Basically, after tons of PLF practice and 32ft tower jumps, they couldn't get the form down and got dropped.

I noticed a common theme of this group, was their lack of understanding what they truly are getting into. All they have our hopes of earning their Green Beret so they can grow beards, wear after market gear and walk around post like they are hot shit. They were the guys that ran out and bought the JFK ABN unit patch day one, yet PT and act like they still belong in basic or a support MOS. We went from a class of 419 to 330 in a week. Not to mention, basic rule following. We get told not to stay out or drink/ go off post because our pass was cancelled, yet these guys don't have the discipline to follow these simple instructions. A few got caught, and they are gone.

Also, supplements are a big problem also. Guys can't hit the gym without taking 10 scoops of 4 different supplements that are unauthorized anyways and a few have already been caught with more to follow. Believe it or not, a few even failed the 20 second flex arm hang. Bias is shown towards other branches, foreigners and officers, so it puts a spotlight on all 18xs and other young Army guys.

-BREAK-

A few thoughts-

1-Supplements are not going to get you to where you need to be. They might provide that edge to put you over the top, but you WILL NOT have supplements to rely on when you are on your 30th mile of the trek.

2- As you can see, these 18x's who failed the PT test are likely the ones who blew off PT in OSUT. Their fate was sealed when they thought they would be good to go.

3- It is absolutely comical that guys WHO HAVE BEEN SELECTED are failing the Airborne PT test. Are you kidding me? You HAVE NOT made it until you have spent a year on an ODA. Not when you get selected, not when you walk across that stage, and not when you sign into your unit. You are probationary and you should keep your mouth shut until you have been through at least a year on your first ODA.

4- Too many guys are showing up to the teams with shitty attitudes. You would think most of them have deployed and are BTDT kind of guys, but it is really quite the opposite. I have no idea where this entitled attitude comes from, but if it continues it will get guys killed. Currently, you cannot tell these new guys ANYTHING.

5-Being humble goes a long way. The same guys who want to show the world that they are SF, or even in SF training are the first ones to go. DO NOT count your eggs before they hatch.

Its the same old song, you think guys would start to listen. :boohoo

[The Reaper]

Great comments.

Those attempting to go SF would be wise to heed them, but realistically, those who need to most, will not.

And that is fine as well. Guys who have attitude and who blow off PT don't need to be in SF anyway. The Regiment certainly does not need them.

TR

[WarriorDiplomat]

An update from an 18X currently at Airborne School:

First week of Airborne school complete. Utterly embarrassing for a lot of people. We had people here, who already went to selection, got selected and washed out of ABN school due to PT test failure. Just embarrassing. Hand quite a few 18Xs got kicked out due to failure to comprehend training. Basically, after tons of PLF practice and 32ft tower jumps, they couldn't get the form down and got dropped.

I noticed a common theme of this group, was their lack of understanding what they truly are getting into. All they have our hopes of earning their Green Beret so they can grow beards, wear after market gear and walk around post like they are hot shit. They were the guys that ran out and bought the JFK ABN unit patch day one, yet PT and act like they still belong in basic or a support MOS. We went from a class of 419 to 330 in a week. Not to mention, basic rule following. We get told not to stay out or drink/ go off post because our pass was cancelled, yet these guys don't have the discipline to follow these simple instructions. A few got caught, and they are gone.

Also, supplements are a big problem also. Guys can't hit the gym without taking 10 scoops of 4 different supplements that are unauthorized anyways and a few have already been caught with more to follow. Believe it or not, a few even failed the 20 second flex arm hang. Bias is shown towards other branches, foreigners and officers, so it puts a spotlight on all 18xs and other young Army guys.

-BREAK-

A few thoughts-

1-Supplements are not going to get you to where you need to be. They might provide that edge to put you over the top, but you WILL NOT have supplements to rely on when you are on your 30th mile of the trek.

2- As you can see, these 18x's who failed the PT test are likely the ones who blew off PT in OSUT. Their fate was sealed when they thought they would be good to go.

3- It is absolutely comical that guys WHO HAVE BEEN SELECTED are failing the Airborne PT test. Are you kidding me? You HAVE NOT made it until you have spent a year on an ODA. Not when you get selected, not when you walk across that stage, and not when you sign into your unit. You are probationary and you should keep your mouth shut until you have been through at least a year on your first ODA.

4- Too many guys are showing up to the teams with shitty attitudes. You would think most of them have deployed and are BTDT kind of guys, but it is really quite the opposite. I have no idea where this entitled attitude comes from, but if it continues it will get guys killed. Currently, you cannot tell these new guys ANYTHING.

5-Being humble goes a long way. The same guys who want to show the world that they are SF, or even in SF training are the first ones to go. DO NOT count your eggs before they hatch.

Its the same old song, you think guys would start to listen. :boohoo

Great post,

IMO our recruiting is being affected by the unprofessional perception the recruits see on T.V. , in articles, internet etc....something as simple as team hats, beards, and mixed uniforms are the visual attraction to these types and this is not much different to what I see of the guys here on Bragg the prima dona image is in. It kind of reminds me of the Gen X attitude era of WWF. Today it is all about the image being SF is "cool" and in style.

NEWSFLASH, what you see on T.V. are team going native for the sake of the mission, growing beards is a cultural thing in Afghanistan, mixing clothes eliminates the formal appearance and breaks down barriers between us and their culture.

Fitness!?!? Failing an Airborne school PT test???????? I am glad they were caught then and I hope they were not retrained and put back into a hold status somewhere. These troops have maturity and character issues.

Sorry about the rant.

[Scimitar]

I imagine most of this behavior is simply because of the way the majority of 18x recruits obtain their contract.

USAREC has an 18X special mission, the recruiter gets "2 points" for a special mission contract. Anyone 20+ years of age, with GT score over 110 will likely have an 18x contract offered to them. And that's about all the prep / explanation they get until SOPC. And even then the SOPC TACs only have 4 weeks to create any real mentality change before SFAS.

USASFC does not see the need to get involved at the front end of the Initial Entry recruiting pipeline, and of the 85%+ of 18x washouts (most in basic training), the Army gets a smart 11-Bravo, who I imagine the 82nd will mature just fine.

S

[Mustang Man]

who I imagine the 82nd will mature just fine.

We have more than our fair share of maturity issues and it's one of the most common reasons a lot of us aspire to go SF, CA, and PSYOPS.

Xrays should definitely heed all of this and and make the 82nd one of your many reasons to make it through. Unless your all about signing songs on Ardennes, enjoy weekly rituals of picking up trash, and area beutification...

[Peregrino]

We have more than our fair share of maturity issues and it's one of the most common reasons a lot of us aspire to go SF, CA, and PSYOPS.

Xrays should definitely heed all of this and and make the 82nd one of your many reasons to make it through. Unless your all about signing songs on Ardennes, enjoy weekly rituals of picking up trash, and area beautification...

Builds character, discipline, and a heartfelt appreciation for why SF is worth the pain required to get your foot in the door (NTM - an incentive to succeed - so you never have to go back :p). Looks like a win/win to me!

[Joker]

... the Army gets a smart 11-Bravo, who I imagine the 82nd will mature just fine.

S

That aren't smart or they would have passed the PT test. They can't pass the Airborne PT test, so they go to dirt-nasty-leg land never to be heard from again. Good.

[ECUPirate09]

deleted

[Lionshare]

.

[Scimitar]

Very interesting stuff,

HUGE change from 2006-2009 period.

Cheers for the info

S

[Lionshare]

.

[Scimitar]

Thinking about it, the change you are likely seeing, is one that was discussed back in 09.

To make recruiters more accountable, they only get 2 points if the recruit actually attended SFAS, many don't.

If not the recruiter has undertaken the extra work that an 18x contract requires for no gain. Hence their greater caution.....perhaps.

S

[Byrd]

In preparation for college, I've been required to fill out multiple papers and create multiple online accounts for the purposes of standardized testing, applications, etc. I'm not sure as to the extent of their public/private availability, but I am rather certain that it can be accessed by many school and government officials. Is there any way that this may affect me in the future if I do earn the Green Beret?

[abc_123]

In the oft chance that it could, I think you should stop even thinking about trying out for SF.

All this major stuff to worry about is not good for your health. Seriously. It's not worth it.

But if you insist, i recommend that you spend the next few years reading the good stuff on this board and worrying most about getting in the best physical shape of your life.

[Kemical]

On a less serious note, selection cadre snagged a few social media photos of some candidates that were using "#selection" and the likes. The class had a great laugh. Funny how I don't see those guys around anymore.

[UofA4161]

S,

It very well could be just the area that I live in too.

Maybe some of the other recruits on the board who have just received 18X contracts can chip in their 2 cents so we can get a better picture from multiple districts in the country.

Jake

I'm in California, 18x, shipping 20160321. My told me it was "hard" and that the drop out rate of the last class was around 91%, but he didn't bust my balls about it beyond that.

[WhiskeyClown91]

I'm in California, 18x, shipping 20160321. My told me it was "hard" and that the drop out rate of the last class was around 91%, but he didn't bust my balls about it beyond that.

Same here, all of the recruiters tell me so long as I bust my ass I'll be fine. I'm guessing they're being nice. Either way, in training we need to work together and push each other. From my past military experience team work and motivation will take us far. We can beat that 91%.

[Team Sergeant]

Same here, all of the recruiters tell me so long as I bust my ass I'll be fine. I'm guessing they're being nice. Either way, in training we need to work together and push each other. From my past military experience team work and motivation will take us far. We can beat that 91%.

"all of the recruiters"

And not one of them a member or former member of the United States Army Special Forces, giving advice about a subject they know absolutely nothing about.

Sounds like a brilliant idea.... :rolleyes:

Here's some advice, if you're not an animal don't try out.

[UofA4161]

"all of the recruiters"

And not one of them a member or former member of the United States Army Special Forces, giving advice about a subject they know absolutely nothing about.

Sounds like a brilliant idea.... :rolleyes:

Here's some advice, if you're not an animal don't try out.

Team Sergeant, agreed.

The disconnect between the MOS and the recruiter is pretty massive. I've learned everything I know about 18x and what I'm getting into from this site and the people I've met through it, but very little from my recruiter. Maybe Army should redirect some Special Forces recruiting budget to the owners/operators/mediators of this site for that reason!

Building on your last comment, I'm curious- if you were to look at an 18x and think/say, "Damn son, you're an absolute animal!" What's that guy like?

[Team Sergeant]

Team Sergeant, agreed.

The disconnect between the MOS and the recruiter is pretty massive. I've learned everything I know about 18x and what I'm getting into from this site and the people I've met through it, but very little from my recruiter. Maybe Army should redirect some Special Forces recruiting budget to the owners/operators/mediators of this site for that reason!

Building on your last comment, I'm curious- if you were to look at an 18x and think/say, "Damn son, you're an absolute animal!" What's that guy like?

Discussed years ago. Here's a brilliant idea, why not "hire" retired SF to speak with possible recruits? :munchin

[CAARNG 68W]

On a less serious note, selection cadre snagged a few social media photos of some candidates that were using "#selection" and the likes. The class had a great laugh. Funny how I don't see those guys around anymore.

Was this at an SFRE or at the SFAS? How the hell did the 'students' have access to their cell phones?

[C4B]

The content in this thread is very interesting especially when it comes down to user privacy.

So I'll throw in some additional information in the mix.

Whatsapp, Snapchat, Facetime, Skype, etc. Be very careful with text/video messaging services especially if they can link to a social media account (See Facebook acquisition of Whatsapp). Your basic texting app that comes with mainly all cellphones should do the trick. Expect more scrutiny of social media platforms and text/video app services because of lone wolf terrorist attacks that have happened this year.

https://www.rt.com/news/359388-lone-wolf-attacks-messengers/

There is no such thing as 100% security when it comes to technology, it all depends on how much of the features you want to disable to keep yourself secure.


Disclaimer: I've done some research of IT and Cyber Security related topics over the years, but I don't have the credentials to claim myself as an expert. I encourage everyone to verify information I divulge here with appropriate search engine usage or local expert.

-C4B

[WildCatFootball]

The content in this thread is very interesting especially when it comes down to user privacy.

So I'll throw in some additional information in the mix.

Whatsapp, Snapchat, Facetime, Skype, etc. Be very careful with text/video messaging services especially if they can link to a social media account (See Facebook acquisition of Whatsapp). Your basic texting app that comes with mainly all cellphones should do the trick. Expect more scrutiny of social media platforms and text/video app services because of lone wolf terrorist attacks that have happened this year.

https://www.rt.com/news/359388-lone-wolf-attacks-messengers/

There is no such thing as 100% security when it comes to technology, it all depends on how much of the features you want to disable to keep yourself secure.


Disclaimer: I've done some research of IT and Cyber Security related topics over the years, but I don't have the credentials to claim myself as an expert. I encourage everyone to verify information I divulge here with appropriate search engine usage or local expert.

-C4B
I have three SF friends, all of them have Facebooks, SnapChats, etc. I used to get Instagram photos from when they were in the Q. Just today one of them posted a workout selfie from their gym in Afghanistan. I think this info is very dramatic. I'm not saying there aren't social media drops, but obviously 18x candidates and tabbed SF soldiers can maintain an active social media presence.

[Pete]

....... I'm not saying there aren't social media drops, but obviously 18x candidates and tabbed SF soldiers can maintain an active social media presence.

Giving advice on some place you ain't got to yet? Interesting.

[Joker]

Giving advice on some place you ain't got to yet? Interesting.

He will not get there (not waiverable).

[Windandrain]

I have three SF friends, all of them have Facebooks, SnapChats, etc. I used to get Instagram photos from when they were in the Q. Just today one of them posted a workout selfie from their gym in Afghanistan. I think this info is very dramatic. I'm not saying there aren't social media drops, but obviously 18x candidates and tabbed SF soldiers can maintain an active social media presence.

This may be true (neither of us really have the experience to say right?), but the original post addressed the fact that social media presence would lower your chance of being assigned to specific units and missions. That intuitively makes sense to me. If you're captured think of the extreme risk to your family, not to mention the leverage the captors have if they can identify you. As an aside, why do we feel the need to update social media in the middle of a time when our focus should be on the task at hand (training for SFAS/Q course)? I trust the QP's who have been there done that and gone back for more.