When it comes to meeting people online, there are a few different ways to do so. However, it can be hard to find people who have similar interests to you. It can also be fairly difficult to find a site that offers you the chance to make friends rather than just online dating. This is where Forces Penpals comes in.

We started off back in 2002, although all communication back then was done via snail mail. We gave people the chance to send letters to people in the Armed Forces, helping to provide a connection to home and boost morale.

Once Forces Penpals took off, there was a lot of demand, which meant the website was started and has slowly become what it is today.

The site allows you to sign up whether you are in the Armed Forces or just want to support those who are. Which means you can be there for others and know that other people will be there for you too, whether you're a civilian, a veteran or currently serving.

Nowadays, the site allows you to make all sorts of connections, from friendship to romantic. It isn't designed to be purely an online dating site, that is just a small part of it, instead, Forces Penpals is a support network, drawing in hundreds of people from various walks of life and with really varied interests.

Of course, that's not to say that you might not meet Mr or Mrs right, as we have a lot of success stories where people have met their partners on the site. This is why it is a good idea to check out our blog on what you should remember when online dating if this is one of the main reasons you'd like to join.

As well as being able to message individual people – for friendship and romance – Forces Penpals also allows you to talk to numerous people via the chat room or forum, ensuring you get the most out of the site and engage with others who have similar interests. 

In the chat room, you can talk to other members in real time, which means conversation can go fairly fast and you get to chat with numerous people at once. Whether you arrange to "meet" other users in the chat room at a specific time or just pop in to see who's there, this is a great way to get to know people.

Alternatively, you can use Forces Penpals' forum, which allows you to start conversations on certain subjects, as well as join in with those that other people have posted. The responses may not be as quick, but you will probably get to talk to others who come online when you aren't. 

Either way, you're sure to meet loads of people and find a support network that really cares about the Armed Forces and those serving as part of them.

If this sounds like the kind of place for you, sign up today for free, set up your profile and get chatting. You never know who you might meet, so it's definitely worth the effort.