"THIS IS LENGTHY BUT I HAVE COMBINED ALL OF THE DISCUSSIONS INTO ONE.... THERE A LOT OF GOOD INFO ON THIS SUBJECT"...

First, we should guard others information at least as closely as we guard our own. Do not post anyone else's information on the internet. This could
put another person at risk and none of us would want that.

Second, use care in the "wider world" when discussing the fact that your sailor is deployed. Be careful posting that information on sites like facebook
and myspace. You may feel secure with your "friends" but your postings
are not secure. Many people that you do not personally know can view
them. Use exceptional care on sites that could be used to "find"
victims such as any on-line chat or forum that is focussed on military
wives or families. While general chatting can be very helpful in
"venting" or finding out useful information, if your "profile" contains
your name and location, if you are chatting about your sailor being
deployed, where you work, where your children go to school etc you are
not practicing personal "OpSec". ANYONE can view these sites - they are
NOT SECURE.

Third, cell phones are NOT secure. They are easily breached. This is a link to a news segment -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCyKcoDaofg . I watched the link and then googled "cell phone spying" - I was taken aback by not only how easy it was to locate a cell-phone at any given
time armed with only the number but by how easy it is to view another's
texts and listen in not only to their conversation while on the phone
but at any time the phone is on, even when not in use.

Finally, please practice "Operational Security" in all things Navy, not just regarding ship's movement.

Why do we always hear about OpSec?"

Operational Security is incredibly important. It is why we are not supposed to give dates out over the phone or in e-mails. It is why we encourage everyone
to call the Careline for information. We, as Navy spouses, parents,
siblings,children, and other family members need to carefully husband
any secure information we receive and understand that having this
information is a privilege, not a right.

Most of us don't think that telling a family member secure information is against the rules. Most of us don't think that forwarding the information of advance
notice on port call dates and locations could be a hazard to our
sailors. Most of us don't realize that multiple OpSec infractions
incurred by sailors and/or their families could cost all of us the
privilege of consistent e-mails and telephone calls. Well, it can.

The rules are clear - we DO NOT discuss ships movement, dates, locations,
or activities unless and until our Captain has told us it is okay. We
don't tell Great Aunt Sally because she doesn't know the rules. We
don't say it to each other over the phone, we don't tell people in
e-mails, we don't blog dates, times, or places, and we take great care
with the information we are privileged to have.

When our neighbor asks "Where is your sailor now?" we say thing like "on the Great Blue
Sea", or "Out there doing his thing", or the standard "I have
absolutely no idea, but wherever he/she is he/she is working hard".

When Great Aunt Sally's nurse says "When are they getting home" we say
"Later" or "Sometime before Labor Day" or "Well, it could all change in
a minute so we don't really bank on anything".

And, when your hairdresser says "when are they leaving?" we say things like "Shortly"
or "I don't like to talk about it, it makes me cry" or "I was talking
to mermaids the other day and they said they were ready anytime now."

It isn't silly. It isn't nonsense. It is VITAL to ship's security. It is
VITAL for the SAFETY of our sailors. Even though your hairdresser,
grocer, Great Aunt Sally, parents, best friend or whomever might be
perfectly safe and want to know only out of love, we do not know and
cannot guarantee that they won't choose to share the information with
someone who shouldn't know or who may then share it inappropriately.

We just don't know. So, we don't take the risk. We keeps the ship's
information close to our hearts and with closed mouths. We refer family
to the Careline. We encourage them to join the Ombudsman Group, the
FRG, and talk to their sailor.

Loose Lips Can Still Sink Ships

The development of the World Wide Web has been a communication boon to military families who are now able to use its technology as a means to
stay closer to their deployed service member. What many don't recognize
is, without careful use, internet activities can also put their service
member and others at risk.

The motto "Loose Lips May Sink Ships," was originally devised by the Navy during WWII to drive home
the importance of operational security (OPSEC). In its most basic form,
OPSEC is concerned with keeping information out of the hands of those
who would use it to do harm. The famous WWII motto is just as important
in achieving OPSEC today as it was back then, although the internet
presents brand new challenges to security that never would have been
considered during its original inception.

The abundance of family home pages, message boards, mailing lists and chat rooms make it
easy and fun to share information, resources and friendship with others
in the military community. Cyber-support is never further than a few
mouse clicks away, and can be a lifesaver for families of reservists or
active duty filling assignments that take them outside the military
support system.

The downfall of this seemingly innocent communication is, "information posted may be intended only for an
internal audience - perhaps even a very small and very specific group
of people. But on the Net, it's available to the world," according to
Paul Stone, American Forces Information Service.

When you make information available on the web, you can never truly be sure who has
access to it - or of their intentions. The friendly spouse (or Mom) you're
chatting with online may be exactly who she claims to be. Then again,
she may not. Resist the temptation to disclose unnecessary information
about your spouse (or Son/Daughter) and his or her job. Don't allow pride in your loved
one to become a means for endangering them.

When participating in online communities or building a personal web site, use caution in revealing information about yourself and your family. Avoid disclosure
of your last name and location, discussion of specific unit
information, movements, or dates, deployment information or base
security measures. And don't forget about pictures - while photographs
are fun to share, always bear in mind a picture is worth a thousand
words. Make sure those words are ones you mean to communicate!

If you correspond with your spouse through email or instant messages, keep in mind such connections are not secure and avoid discussion of
sensitive information. The same is true of online chat rooms.

Air Force Lt. Col. Buzz Walsh remarked, "The biggest mistake people make
[on the internet] is they don't understand how easy it is to aggregate
information."

Like a jigsaw puzzle whose pieces don't mean much individually, information can be put together to determine a more complete picture. Seemingly insignificant details can become very
important when they're the final pieces of the puzzle.

Compromise of military operations is not the only feared result of OPSEC violations. The Department of Defense is also concerned for the safety
of families who may unwittingly become targets of hostility because of
their connection to the military.

Military spouses (and other loved ones) should be smart, not scared, when it comes to online communications.
Precautionary measures are meant to ensure safety, not cause
unnecessary anxiety.

If you have questions about OPSEC and appropriate communications, contact your command family support liaison
for more information.