If you have a loved one in the military, you may have heard about OPSEC. Operations Security (OPSEC) is a way to protect information that can be used against us by adversaries.
As proud Army Moms, we tend to shout out unclassified information in social media on a regular basis. These include photos with a name showing, return date countdowns, exact locations, deployment dates and much more.
When information is posted online, any adversary can access it since it is in the public domain (open source). According to the U.S. Department of Defense Educational Activity, “most of the information collected comes from Open Source.”
If information gets out, it can put our service members in danger.
Why you should not Post Deployment Dates
As military moms, we get so excited when we receive news of our service member coming home from a deployment. But it’s a mistake to post this information anywhere online.
There have been situations where deployment dates had to be changed due to so many people posting the original date online. This only serves to put that information in front of adversaries and delays the time they can come home.
Social Media and OPSEC
These days, posting personal information on social media sites has become the norm. When it comes to your soldier, be more cautious before posting information.
Whether you are posting on Facebook, Twitter, or other social media sites, be more aware before you post anything regarding your service member.
Even if you are in a private Facebook group, there is no guarantee that information cannot be accessed by enemies who are well-schooled about technology.
OPSEC Resources
There are many ways you can learn more about OPSEC and how you can integrate OPSEC into your daily life, especially when it comes to keeping our military safe.
And don’t forget about PERSEC, or Personal Security. For example, if you are on Facebook posting the date you are leaving for vacation, that is an announcement that your home will be empty starting on that date.
If you regularly “check into” places online, that’s another announcement that you are not home.
Here are some resources to learn more about OPSEC, how it can affect our military members, and what you should do to practice it daily.
- U.S Department of Defense OPSEC
- U.S. Army Operational Security Facebook Page – lots of information here.
- Naval Operational Security Facebook Page
- Military Spot – OPSEC and PERSEC
- DOD Live – check out the downloads for families
Conclusion
OPSEC is an important part of keeping our soldiers safe. Social media has created quite a challenge. By observing the rules set forth in the OPSEC resources, we can make a difference!
Leave a Reply