ADMIN UPDATE: Members MUST Read ASAP: Updated RULES.

[Navy for Moms Admin]

Hello N4M Members!
I don’t often start threads and put them on the top of the page like this but it’s important and I need everyone to read it. We’ll be enforcing some new rules starting today per direction of the Navy. No need to get upset or panic… okay? I like to call this the growing pains of getting bigger and needing to become a bit stricter about a few things.

1. So, Navy saw it as a breach of security on N4M’s when members were telling other members how to bend and break the rules (IE get into PIR w/o a parking pass). Thus, any tricks like that can’t be talked about. We don’t want to jeopardize the safety of our recruits. This also includes, “I have more than 4 people that want to attend PIR”. If we see that question- the response should be something like:
“Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, IL is the homeport for all Navy recruit training. If you have specific questions regarding Boot Camp, Pass-in-Review (graduation) or a recruit, please visit http://www1.netc.navy.mil/nstc/rtcgl/family/index.html. If you cannot find the answer there, please phone RTC Public Affairs on 847-688-2405 or email on [e-mail].”

2. Sailor last names are not allowed to be posted. We know in this day and age, that often your children have different last names than you. So, it’s up to you on if you want your last name on here or not, but the Navy is telling us- Do not post sailors last name. You can say my son’s name is John. Just not John Smith.
For people that want to now change their user name... you can find out how to do it here.

3. Remove physical addresses of sailors. (Exception to the rule is FPO address).
It’s not necessarily that our sailors don’t want to be contacted by our sweet Navy Members…it’s more that we have to be sensitive to their privacy. Even if you wanted to post your sailor’s address or your sailor’s friends address, please don’t.

4. Please do not post any names/numbers of the RTC Staff.

So, obviously- easy quick changes on your end. Please go through your profiles, posts, photos, groups, events and videos to make sure the above is deleted and/or edited out. Obviously, I’ll be going through and deleting things as well but it’s helpful if you look over your own stuff.

Thank you for reading this and editing/deleting any of your comments in advance.

Elle

[Leann <3's Douglas]

fyi, your sailor is not even suppose to share that info with you(dates of ports of call's before hand)....if you have it and post it....your sailor could really get himself into alot of trouble. My son doesn't tell me anything untill it's done. Just info I thought I would share. I know some sailors have shared dates with family but rule of thumb is they really are not suppose to at all.

[Debby]

Even though my son's and I have different last names I changed my name on this site to protect both of them.. I would also like to add that I wouldnt list or even give out information on mailing my sons especially while in Iraq.. These days you really dont know whom you are talking to on the internet and as much as we'd all love to trust that the person we are talking to is 'one of us" you never know... you could be putting your child in harms way and not even know it..

Debby

[Cheryl, proud mother of PO2!! Brannon]

Thanks for the info. I have posted all over this place and in my excitement said where my son is going to be stationed. How do I delete all of those posting? I deleted all the messages from "my page". I was so excited to brag about him, I never thought of the security breach.

[Hoppi aka Angie]

Click on your page, than on the left hand side it says Discussions, next to that is a number. Click on the number and it will take you to another page that you can click and review all the posts you have made.

[Cheryl, proud mother of PO2!! Brannon]

Thank you - saw it got a little heated with some responses back there... my apron strings are cut but I am concerned for my son and dont want him or anyone else to be jeopardized by anything posted. For a second there I was almost sorry I joined this site.

[Jane]

Changed my name....no prob. Don't want to risk losing this informative site.

[Christie U]

Good idea! I did that and also searched within this site. I found 1 entry that I had forgotten about and got it deleted. Thanks!

[KELLY]

I could not agree more with the statement about bringing extra guest to the PIR. In July I wrote how I thought it was wrong for members to tell people to "break the rules" and feel free to "go against what the Navy was saying". I found it hard to believe that the Navy would set a rule and be comfortable with people telling others that it wasn't enforced and encouraging people to ignore the rule and bring how ever many people they wanted. That is exactly the responses I was reading when people asked about bringing more than 4 guest. I am pleased that I will no longer be reading those responses to the question: "What if I have more than 4 people?"
I believe I even contacted you about this issue in July.

[Navy for Moms Admin]

Kelly, you probably did. But at that time, I wasn't told that it was a red flag. Now I am told. :) CC

[Brandi's Mom]

Thanks Catherine - this is such a great site for all of us Navy Mom's. I almost posted a photo of my daughter in uniform but realized that her name was in full-view. Glad I read first, acted later.

[Molly mom of 2 + 330,701 sailors]

So a quick question about the adopt a sailor group ~
The address comes to me with full name and FPO and I post it as such.
I know FPO/APO is ok ~ but what about the full name ?

[Navy for Moms Admin]

Molly, our Navy contact is out all this week. I will forward your question to him, and hopefully we can get a response from him next week. Sincerely, CC