1) Purpose. This Forum is primarily for past, present, and future members of the Armed Forces of the United States of America, their ‘auxiliaries’, our friends and allies, their families and friends.
2) Personal Use. The forum is intended for your personal use only. Due to the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (which is available at http://www.ftc.gov/ogc/coppa1.htm), you must be at least thirteen (13) years of age to use this Service. The forum cannot be responsible for unauthorized use and you certify by your logging on that you are at least 13 years of age. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your Service password and account, and are responsible for all activities that occur thereunder.
3) Proper Use. You agree that you are responsible for your own communications and for any consequences thereof. You agree that you will use the site in compliance with all applicable local, state, national, and international laws, rules and regulations, including any laws regarding the transmission of technical data exported from your country of residence. You shall not, shall not agree to, and shall not authorize or encourage any third party to: (i) use the Service to upload, transmit or otherwise distribute any content that is unlawful, defamatory, harassing, abusive, fraudulent, obscene, contains viruses, or is otherwise objectionable as reasonably determined by the forum’s administration; (ii) upload, transmit or otherwise distribute content that infringes upon another party's intellectual property rights or other proprietary, contractual or fiduciary rights or obligations; or (iii), use the forum for any fraudulent or inappropriate purpose.
4) Rules. As this is an internet forum, ideas will be expressed that may be controversial. You agree to participate in conversations, discussions, and debates:
a) Without resorting to personal attacks, sometimes referred to as flaming. It’s very simple: don't do it. Attack the argument, not the person. Namecalling is a form of a personal attack.
b) While exhibiting due respect for the service of any military veteran, regardless of rank, rate, billet, title, job, MOS, or length of service. If you served and weren’t convicted of a felony, you’re good to go.
c) Without threatening a fellow member. Cyber-threats are just as real as real threats. Again, don’t go there.
d) Without commercial interest, unless special agreement is made between you and the administration. This means spam, or any form of spamming.
e) Without resorting to troll-like behavior. Trolls are people who post provocative information generally with the understanding they’ll get a heated reaction.
f) Without claiming to be something or somebody you’re not, i.e., posing. That includes the use of suggestive screen names like “Ranger In Training”, for example.
5) You agree that:
a) Any comment you post may be edited or deleted.
b) Your posting of your own views, opinions or original compositions become public domain by your voluntary posting of them on an internet forum, and no claims of individual copyright may be asserted.
c) Violation of the terms of usage may result in warnings, temporary suspension of posting/viewing privileges, or a full ban, as warranted and determined by administration. This is defined as follows:
i) For infractions of the TOU, Administrators or Moderators may issue a Warning. This is designed to get the attention of the offender in a way as to cause minimum disruption, yet get the point across.
ii) Temporary suspension: Typically of a specified period of time, anywhere from 24-hours to two weeks, a temporary suspension is designed to deal with a recurring issue with the same member. Temporary suspensions run for a set period of time and expire automatically. Unless otherwise required, no contact to the administration is necessary following the period of suspension.
iii) The definitive ban. Depending on the severity of the circumstances, a permanent ban may be imposed. Generally speaking, definitive bans are imposed on egregious violations of the TOU which include, but are not limited to, troll-like behavior, posing, and communicating threats. This ban may include all or part of the following:
(1) Restriction to logging on and viewing only – no posting privileges granted.
(2) Permanent ban against an IP address, email address, screen name, or combination of the above.
iv) Note: Suspensions and bans may be contested or rebutted. Contact an administrator in such instances.
d) Any administrative actions taken against you for violation of the terms of usage may be posted on the site.
e) The language you will see on the forum will occasionally be “salty”, given that this is a military-oriented internet forum. However, you are requested to consider your audience on any given forum and use a measure of respect for others. Not everybody uses the “f-bomb” four times in every other sentence or is comfortable reading them. Please note there is a word filter that is employed by default. If “salty” language does not offend you, you may turn off the word filter within your profile. A word on profiles: You are invited to modify your own profile within the software as an option. You may employ avatars, signature lines, and similar items of personal information. You are requested, however, to keep this information reasonable in size and scope so as to keep the size of your displayed profile appropriately sized.
f) Military-oriented precautionary programs and philosophies such as Operations Security (OPSEC) and Personnel Security (PERSEC) will be observed. Since some military members are serving on an active basis, addresses, phone numbers, units, dates of deployment, and other personal/military data must be safeguarded. Do not post such information. Be cautious of posting photographs of military personnel in uniform. Nametapes/tags disclose last names.
g) The forum software uses “cookies”. A cookie is a text file containing bits of information (such as your username and password), in your browser's cache. This is ONLY used to keep you logged in/out. The software does not collect or send any other form of information to your computer. Please note, however, that your IP address is recorded with each post. This information is collected and stored to be used only in concert with investigations or other official purpose by the administrators or by law.
6) Representations and Warranties. You represent and warrant that (a) all of the information provided by you to the site is correct and current; and (b) you have all necessary right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform the acts required of you hereunder.
7) Account Inactivity. After a period of inactivity, the forum administration reserves the right to disable or terminate a user's account.
 Indemnification. You agree to hold harmless and indemnify the site and its subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, agents, and employees from and against any third party claim arising from or in any way related to your use of the site, including any liability or expense arising from all claims, losses, damages (actual and consequential), suits, judgments, litigation costs and attorneys' fees, of every kind and nature.
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