IMPORTANT: Revised Community Guidelines and Policies!

[Navy for Moms Admins]

Updated 10 July 2009
Message from Rear Admiral Robin Braun


N4M Members,

As I mentioned in my previous message, we have been conducting a very thorough review of the Community Guidelines to ensure we continue to provide our members the most rewarding experience possible while respecting the freedoms our Sailors serve to protect.

As you know, the purpose of NAVYForMoms.com is to bring together Navy parents and the parents of recruiting-age young men and women to discuss the multitude of leadership, training, and career opportunities our Navy offers and the great pride Navy parents have in their children. NAVYForMoms.com exists to allow families an open forum to discuss what life in the Navy is really like.

Today, I am pleased to announce the completion of this review and the adoption of new Community Guidelines for the NAVYForMoms.com website.

The goal of the new Guidelines is to facilitate open discussion without compromising the purpose of the website, namely the exchange of information relating to service in the Navy. As I noted in my previous message, your personal freedoms are extremely important to the Navy and my hope is that these updated Guidelines provide the best possible balance between the defense of those liberties and the integrity of the website.

I encourage everyone to review the revised Community Guidelines and to become familiar with acceptable use on the NAVYForMoms.com website. The new Community Guidelines may be reviewed here.

I would like to draw your attention to the discussion of off-topic posts and the need to keep discourse civil. These rules are intended to ensure that members get the quick and useful answers to their Navy-related questions in the friendly and collegial atmosphere that has come to define NAVYForMoms.com.

Please know that NAVYForMoms members’ suggestions played a critical part in the revision of the Guidelines, and we will continue to rely on your honest feedback as we strive to provide the best possible user experience.

As always, I would like to thank you for your continued support of the Navy family and our men and women who serve our great nation.

Rear Admiral Robin Braun, USN
Commander
Navy Recruiting Command

[NimitzMama]

I agree with Melissa Engelhard that removing all religious/political discussion is a violation of free speech laws and I do agree that we should be able to discuss those topics here, but with the caveat that Melissa mentioned, namely that violators are dealt with swiftly and harshly the first time. If that had happened with the people who have helped to shape your current stance, the language would have never escalated to the point it did and we would not be looking at having to deny political and religious discussions, as many times those topics can arise in discussing the military and our service men and women.

[Vicki~J.J.'s mom]

Elle, Thank you for the update. you do a wonderful job watching the site.

[Amanda]

As I sit here listening to the news, there are events unfolding that will impact my son and in other stories, the sons or daughters of my friends.

We cannot discuss our sons and daughters. Not because of OPSEC alone, but because we've promised them we won't.

We cannot discuss the events that affect them.

I do know that the blurb you hear on the news any given night, will affect someone's service member the following day, if it hasn't already. For those of you that are new, soon this will be you too. You'll want to discuss decisions being made that impact your kids, but you won't be able.

The banner slogan on this page is "Get the real story on Navy life from Moms who live it everyday".

This mom can't tell you that. And THAT is a big part of Navy life. I hope the rest of you are crafty types, there are many great groups for that.

[Jeanine #762]

If Navy Recruit Command is watching this site, I do imagine that other branches are watching their own sites and have come to the joint conclusion to end the debate about religion and politics. There are other sites to do the debating on whether you agree or not to their espoused positions. Let's get back to the real reason we are here and that is in support of the men and women of the fleet and other branches of the military. My sailor has stated more than once that he may not agree with the political position of the time but he is there to do his job and do what they direct him to do. This was also echoed in the documentary filmed aboard the Nimitz not only by sailors but also pilots numerous times. They must reconcile this in their own minds and move on and so we must also with the new guidelines. Let's move on and support our loved ones in a positive manner.

[Gloria P.]

Great decision. I feel if you want to talk about anything political then you should find some other site to do it in. I'm here to support our sailors has most N4Ms are.

[Barbara (Derek's Mom)]

I agree with this decision because I have seen so many arguments and nasty comments. There are plenty of places to go and have political and religious discussions. Let's support our sailors and their families and answer questions to those that are in need of our experience.

[LynnDear]

Not sure what I missed that led to this, but Elle, I appreciate what you do. I appreciate the opportunuity to support our military and military families, and to establish friendships with others going through the same issues, whether it is celebrating a promotion, fear of deployment, or being discharged due to administrated or medical or retirement. So many questions, so many new and experience people. All here sharing. This is good.

[Norma]

I'm to new to the group but I can say from what I have read, that it is a good idea. While we all have our own religious and political beliefs, I believe we are here to support each other while our loved ones are putting their lives out there to keep us safe and to give us the freedoms we do have today.

[Pamela]

Great Idea!! We are here for our Sailors.... not to create conflict. Isn't there enough of that already? I support this decision fully!!

[Cathy (Mike's proud mom)]

Everyone is entitled to their political/religous viewpoint and there are many outlets for these discussions; however, I agree that this site should not be one of them. I applaud the move to return to the basics in regard to the discussions that take place on this site. We are, after all, here to support each other answer questions, and provide assistance and guidance to families of our sailors. Thank you for providing the leadership to return this site to its original mission: the well being of our sailors and the families that support them