November 1st, 2009 
Query by LeeR: Why is the military reversing the social networking policy?
I have been hearing rumors of this for a number of months now, but I often thought it was ridiculous. I researched it nowadays and it looks to be true, the military (at least the AF and Army) has made the decision to permit entry to websites this kind of as Facebook and Twitter from DoD computers. Not that I thoughts being in a position to get a tiny Facebook motion into my function day, but I won’t be able to help but wonder what on earth is the concept behind it. What general was sitting at his desk like, “you know what, this is a modify that Desires to happen! I know there are a plethora of other things I need to be worried about, but this is at the top of my checklist.”
Reading through some of the content, (this 1 in certain back links to a PDF outline of an AF policy www.military.com/military-report/af-to-permit-social-network-accessibility) I won’t be able to support but really feel like the soul function of this is to far better enable company members to turn out to be walking PSAs to their pals and household. Otherwise I cannot figure out how making it possible for us to Tweet from our career could be beneficial to the military. Any ideas?
http://www.businessweek.com/information/2010-02-27/pentagon-will-let-troops-broad-accessibility-to-social-media-internet sites.html
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/11/army-reverses-policy-enable-troops-use-social-networking-websites/
Apparently I should also include a disclaimer because my private views are expressed. If this has been discussed recently I am sorry. Havent’ seen it.
No, they are reversing the policy time period. As in from perform I can get on Facebook.
Rager24 that is not what the policy states at all.
In basic, the Air Pressure views individual World wide web websites and weblogs positively, and it respects the correct of Airmen to use them as a medium of self-expression. Even so, as members of the Air Force, Airmen need to abide by specific restrictions to make sure excellent purchase and discipline. All Airmen are on duty 24 hrs a day, 365 days a year, and their actions on and off duty are subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).
fifteen.two. When Airmen, including PA specialists and officers, see misrepresentations manufactured about the Air Force in the media, by analysts or by other bloggers, they may use their blogs or someone else’s to stage out the error. Constantly do so with respect and with the information. When speaking to an individual with an adversarial placement, they really should make certain that what is said is factual and is not disparaging. Stay away from arguments.
Nothing in there states that only specific Airmen are authorized.
I’ma want you guys to in fact examine the content. The Af and Army are certainly altering the policy to let accessibility to websites from operate so that we can use them if we want to. It states nothing about “certain personnel” or nearly anything of the kind. There is no confusion that they are now permitting us to utilize these web sites from work in the identical way we may select to use the AF Portal or AKO/DKO. My only issue is why they’d do that.
Aaaand Rager24 I just recognized you stated you would give your Airmen paperwork for legitimate reasons. You do recognize you would have NO “legitimate cause,” don’t you?
Sure Proper Wing. I know it is not every single wherever yet. If you go through some of the posts I posted it was intended to be carried out AF vast by the end of April. But you know how we are, do you remember the total blousing strap ish final year? How we weren’t supposed to have them time period and that all types of changed and rechanged and whatnot simply because men and women fussed so a lot?
Certainly Sir Personnel Sgt Rager 24, sir. It’s not in the AOR anyway, and which is where I am. 
Very best answer:
Response by Your Uncle Dodge!
“DoD computer systems” is a loose term. If you indicate from libraries, Internet cafes, and these, you cannot quit that.
If it’s taking place from function, I count on firewalls to block it and the supervisors to arrive down on personnel not executing the mission.
What do you think? Answer down below!
Tags: military, Networking, policy, reversing, Social
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Only for some people. Recruiters in particular are actively encouraged to use social networking sites to get to know people more which thus increases the chance that they can persuade someone to enlist in the military, as well as that person’s massive chain of friends they can find on Facebook and such. If a grunt is caught on Facebook out of Stand Down time, there is hell to pay though.
Yes, they can use the social networking sites. However, only if you are a recruiter or during stand down. You can pretty much do anything really in stand down that you would do at home, so long as it doesn’t interfere with anyone else. It’s always been like that in the military.
the policy as it stands is that if you have a valid reason for being on facebook or youtube its allowed… if you are playing farmville you will still get in trouble… There are VERY FEW people who will have valid reasons to get on social networking sites. VERY VERY FEW… And they all know who they are, if you are asking this you are NOT one of them and are hence, NOT allowed to get on them during duty hours from a work computer…
I’d stay off them If I were you, I informed all my airmen that if I caught them on there, they would receive paperwork for legitmate reasons…
Edit: I don’t know what this other guy is saying, but I’m telling you as a real supervisor in the USAF its for mission essential purposes and to be careful, talk it over with your supervisor and your own chain of command to see what they feel about it… If anything, asking what their feelings and expectations are will only make you seem more responsible, and prevent you from getting in trouble… Of course the policy doesn’t list specific AFSCs which are allowed to use them, but the guidance I recieced (via base commander) was that it was for mission essential purposes only, IE: Recruiting, Pubilc Affairs, etc… AFSCs with valid reasons to network…
Just be careful, and talk it out with your supervisor, as with anything in the AF, it all rests on them to decide day to day policy
Again, I’m only refering to Govt computer use while you are ON duty, not personal time… do whatever you want on personal time…
Im going to be up front im National Guard so it does not effect me very much however i just spent a week at Bragg and used a DOD computer to surf the web , its still bocks out alot of sites for no reason.
I can see your point about “face book” but really its not a big deal because airmen soldiers seamen and Marines are going to go on those sites anyway