Community Guidelines
Last updated: August 31, 2026
Patriots Protect exists to serve veterans, active-duty service members, and first responders — people who have risked their lives for others. That context shapes everything about how we govern this community. These guidelines are not corporate boilerplate. They reflect what this community deserves.
1. Who Can Join
Patriots Protect is open to U.S. military veterans, active-duty and reserve service members, law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and the immediate family members of these communities. We also welcome civilians who are committed to supporting our mission.
Claiming a service background you do not have — whether for access, status, or sympathy — is a serious violation of community trust. We investigate credible reports and will permanently ban members found to have misrepresented their service.
2. Identity Verification
Verification is optional but meaningful. When enabled by the community administrator, members may submit a valid government ID, military ID (DD-214 or active-duty card), law enforcement credential, or fire/EMS certification to earn a verified shield badge.
Verification documents are reviewed by Patriots Protect staff, stored with encryption, and never shared with other members or third parties. Submitting fraudulent documents to obtain a verified badge is grounds for immediate permanent ban.
3. Content Standards
Post as you would in a room full of fellow service members and first responders — with directness, honesty, and respect for those next to you. Robust debate, strong opinions, and dark humor are part of this culture. What is not welcome is deliberate cruelty toward individuals.
Welcome
- • Mission stories and after-action lessons
- • Transition advice and career wins
- • Mental health conversations — real, unfiltered
- • Political commentary and policy debate
- • Community humor, memes, and banter
- • Resources for families and caregivers
- • Event posts, meetups, and unit reunions
Not Welcome
- • Personal attacks targeting a member's identity
- • Graphic violence or gore without community purpose
- • Sexual content of any kind
- • Classified or operationally sensitive information
- • Advertising or unsolicited sales pitches
- • Content that mocks or minimizes PTSD or suicide
- • Deliberate provocation with no constructive intent
4. Prohibited Conduct
The following are never acceptable, regardless of context, intent, or target:
Harassment & threats
Targeting individuals with repeated unwanted contact, threats of violence, or coordinated attacks designed to intimidate.
Doxxing
Publishing private personal information — home address, unit assignment, identity documents, or financial details — without consent. Service members' operational details are treated as zero-tolerance.
Hate speech
Content that dehumanizes people based on race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. Military culture is not a license for derogatory language.
Impersonation
Pretending to be another member, a government agency, a veteran service organization, or Patriots Protect staff.
Disinformation
Deliberately false claims about military service, medals, or first-responder status; fabricated news presented as fact; coordinated inauthentic behavior.
Spam & commercial solicitation
Unsolicited promotion of external products, pyramid schemes, job offers, or repeated off-topic posting. Legitimate career opportunities belong in the careers section.
Illegal content
Content that facilitates, promotes, or depicts illegal activity — including weapons trafficking, fraud, controlled substances, or child sexual abuse material (CSAM). CSAM triggers immediate termination and a mandatory report to NCMEC.
Manipulation of the feed
Vote-brigading, mass reporting campaigns against legitimate members, using automation to artificially amplify content, or operating multiple accounts to evade enforcement.
5. Reporting Violations
Use the flag icon on any post, comment, or profile to submit a report. Reports are anonymous to other members. Our Trust + Safety team reviews every report within 24 hours during business days and within 48 hours on weekends.
For urgent safety concerns — credible threats of violence, active self-harm disclosures, or content involving minors — email safety@patriotsprotect.com. For life-threatening emergencies, call 911 immediately. The Veterans Crisis Line is available 24/7 at 988, then press 1.
6. Enforcement
Violations are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Context matters, and we take reported intent and history into account. Our general escalation path:
Warning
First violation of most guidelines. Notice sent via community inbox; content removed or edited.
Temporary suspension
Repeated or more serious violations. 7–30 day suspension depending on severity; content removed.
Permanent ban
Severe violations, zero-tolerance offenses, or patterns of abuse after suspension. Account terminated; no refund of remaining subscription term.
Zero-tolerance offenses (CSAM, credible violent threats, doxxing of service members) result in immediate permanent ban, regardless of prior standing. We reserve the right to skip enforcement steps for severe violations.
7. Appeals
Members who believe an enforcement action was taken in error may appeal within 30 days by emailing appeals@patriotsprotect.com with the subject line "Appeal — [your username]." Include a brief explanation of why you believe the action was incorrect.
Appeals are reviewed by a senior Trust + Safety team member not involved in the original decision. We respond within 7 business days. Permanent bans for zero-tolerance offenses are not eligible for appeal.
8. Privacy Within the Community
Content shared in community spaces is visible to other members and may be seen by Patriots Protect staff. Private direct messages are encrypted in transit and are not routinely reviewed, but may be accessed in response to a credible safety report or legal process.
Never share another member's private information outside the community — including screenshots of direct messages — without their explicit consent. This applies even when you believe the content is newsworthy or exposing wrongdoing.
9. Changes to These Guidelines
We may update these guidelines as the community grows. Material changes are announced via the community feed and by email at least 14 days before taking effect. Continued use of the community constitutes acceptance of the updated guidelines.
10. Contact Trust + Safety
Trust + Safety: safety@patriotsprotect.com · Appeals: appeals@patriotsprotect.com · PO Box 12345, San Antonio, TX 78201