OPSEC

[Melissa Greenfield]

Loose Lips Sink Ships or OPSEC

Operational Security, also known as OPSEC, is even more important today than in the past. In the simplest terms OPSEC is denying the “bad guys” information so that our military may complete their assignment. We now have more means of communication that may be “intercepted” than ever before. Cell phone conversations and internet/email transmissions need to be guarded.

Conversations on cell phones are very easy to monitor. Discussing leave, where a unit is located or even plans for the spouse and kids to go visit Grandma and Grandpa can give anyone another piece of the puzzle. Before you talk make sure it is not of any importance to anyone who may be tuned into your conversation. (Regular phones may be monitored too!)

The Internet and email seem to give many a sense of false security. You may think that post with your name on one message board won’t harm anyone. Maybe not, but how about that post complaining about your spouse leaving for “over there” in December, and then the post about taking your child to the ER and your spouse being gone to the desert and you had to do it alone and so forth. All of these pieces can be used to build “the big picture” of who you are, where you live, where your husband is stationed and so on until they know all about you and your life. Go to a search engine such a Google.com sometime and search your name – you might be surprised at how much turns up!

Information posted to the Internet or sent in emails can literally be all over the world in a matter of seconds. Once out there it is impossible to retract it! I know message boards for military spouses are great – it helps us to have someone else out there who understands the hardships. Please be careful of what you post though. If you are not sure about a posting – save it as a draft in your emails. Then reread it the next day and if you feel it is okay to post then do so, if not just delete it and no one else will know.

We all pay attention to warnings about children posting personal information on the web. Many of us have kids who use the web for school projects and have warned them of the dangers. Haw many of us follow those same rules ourselves or do you feel that is for kids only?

Many of you have practiced OPSEC without knowing it. Have you stopped your mail and newspaper when leaving town? Have you put your lights on a timer while gone? You have done those things to make it more difficult for someone to know you are gone – OPSEC!

The rules have changed now and it could also be your own security you are protecting. Terrorists have attacked civilians and may continue to do so. Please think of that old WWII saying – “Loose Lips Sink Ships” because it might be your loved one's safety or your own in jeopardy!

Source: Sgt Mom
I did change "spouse" to loved one's