What is OPSEC and why is it IMPORTANT?

[Anti M]

There is a good discussion of OPSEC in the general forums, but since so many of our new gals start here, I'd thought I'd cover some of the basics. I had a Top Secret clearance in the Navy, so I'm trained in it.

OPSEC stands for Operational Security. This is everything about military operations, from supply to mission to location... everything. We all know there are bad guys out there and they want to do us harm. They can and will use any means necessary. Our job is not to feed any of them even the slightest bit of information they can use to put together a puzzle concerning where our guys are and what they are doing. This board, N4M, is VERY public. Anyone can read it, anyone can pretend to be your true-blue friend. Be cautious.

But you say, I see so many things on the news and the internet?! Yes, but if the Navy has cleared it for official release, then you can repeat it. An example is the USS Dubuque will be going on a humanitarian mission this year; the Navy put out a press release about that. I know when, but I'd never post ship movement on a public board!

Learn this phrase, "Need to Know". Sure some things "everybody" knows, but that does not mean you should post it! Sailors work by need to know, if they don't need to know it, they don't. So if your sailor shares things with you, that does not mean you need to share with us. Keep them safe!

While the sailors are in school, this all seems like overkill. But once they are far away and doing important and critical work, you need to do your part too. It is easy to get excited and share too much, or be in a rush and forget your OPSEC (I do sometimes).

Things to never post:

Ship or troop movement. Even one sailor is a "troop"! We're not talking orders after A school, we're talking when the ship deploys, when it has sea trials, when it returns, when the Marines came aboard. None of those cute countdown counters for when he'll be back! Boot camp, sure, but NEVER once he is in the fleet. If he is overseas, don't talk about where he is or when he comes back. Just say "He's deployed" and leave it at that. I'll see him this summer, or soon, or not for a while. No dates!

Yes, we know which moms and wives have guys in the Sandbox. That's alright, but never share details such as base name, working hours or even morale. Don't give the baddies a way to figure out when he has time off and what he likes to do and where he is!

Do not post personal info such as last names. This seems so harmless, after all the Navy does Hometown News and such things. Sure, they do. But there are undercover people trained to find and exploit vulnerable men and women in the service. Really, you should see the training videos! So don't give up his/her last name. And I'd be cautious about personal problems too... talk in general terms publically, and use private messages and emails to talk to your friends. If there are problems on the ship or at the command, that's not fodder for you to complain about here! One of the biggest things that gets to me is the way a few moms haul problems that can be handled otherwise onto such a public board!

There is much more, so please feel free to add more information, links or experiences. And do ask questions! I will add more as I think of things.

This is the link to the discussion with the official explanations:

http://www.navyformoms.com/group/leavinforbootcampinfebruary/forum/...

[Tanya]

So true.. = )

Loose lips sink ships

[Karysa]

THANK YOU. I feel like I am constantly repeating this. It's not that hard ladies!!!!!! Keep the smacker zipped!! : )

[Karysa]

Replying again to bump this to the top of the list. It's so important.

[Anti M]

Bumping!

[Proud Nuke Wife]

I read this in another group, and feel like it is EXTREMELY important to be shared with everyone!

BREMERTON —

Normally the Navy gives a heads-up before an aircraft carrier comes or goes so locals can view the spectacle. It’s not much time. Maybe a day. The short notice is meant to safeguard the ship’s movements.

But when the USS Abraham Lincoln departed Puget Sound Naval Shipyard Jan. 13 after a nine-month overhaul, ship officials asked to keep it quiet until they were under way.

“We’re being really careful and not announcing our exact departure or arrival times,” spokesman Lt. Cmdr. William Marks said.

The extra caution stems from recent online terrorist threats directed at the Navy. The group al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, which has been linked to the Christmas Day airliner bomb plot, posted one of them on Dec. 29. It called on Muslims to gather information about Navy ships at sea, how they’re serviced during deployment, whether there are nuclear weapons on board, and about their crews and families.

“Now with the help of God, every American naval vessel in the seas and oceans — aircraft carriers, submarines, and all of its war machines within range of al-Qaida — will be destroyed,” the post stated.

Lt. Nate Christensen, from the Navy’s Office of Information, wouldn’t comment Thursday, but he said earlier statements attributed to him are accurate.

“The Navy has been aware of the al-Qaida threats since discovery on Dec. 31, 2009,” he was quoted saying in the Jan. 8 in the Washington Times. He said the Naval Criminal Investigative Service circulated information about the threat throughout the Navy.

Lt. Cmdr. Cindy Fields, spokeswoman for the John C. Stennis, said the ship wasn’t under heightened security, and that information about the aircraft carrier leaving Bremerton on Wednesday could have been made public the usual day ahead of time.

“Generally we don’t put out information about ship movements until 24 hours and we still don’t discuss specific times,” she said. “We try not to advertise unless we have to. We’re always concerned about operational security.”

Submarines have never announced their movements except on special occasions.

The recent threats serve to remind sailors and their families to be careful in their communications, particularly now that posts on social networks can immediately go out to the world.

“It’s important that the Navy family remain vigilant in not sharing potentially sensitive or secure information by any non-secure means — to include letters, e-mail, telephone conversations or social media,” Christensen said.

Shaun Turner, manager of the Deployment Support Program at the Fleet and Family Support Program in Washington, D.C., listed things that shouldn’t be posted on social media sites:

—Exact employment dates and return dates

—Port of call locations and dates

—Detailed mission information

—References to crew morale or personal problems

—Details of security procedures

—Information about equipment readiness

—Speculation about future operations.

“The main rule is to simply use common sense,” Turner said. “Think before you post. Anything you post on social media, including photos, is instantly available around the world. When in doubt, don’t post it.”

Really important.....needs to be read.

Read more: http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/jan/22/threats-prompt-navy-to-be...

[Anti M]

This is the part of the threat which is chilling:

and about their crews and families.

If you can't get at the sailors, get at their families. Many of you don't have your profiles set to private, I can see where you live, and tons of details about your life. Consider setting your profile here to private.

[proudmom2be09]

Thanks for this. You never know who is waiting for info!

[Fur&FeathersDVM]

With all the new people I've noticed posting on the forums, I felt like this could use a good bump... I have seen too many people mentioning last names or posting themselves as "Mrs. *insert sailor's last name here". Or talking about deployments!
One of my friends shared this with me and I thought it was a great informational tool for understanding why opsec is so important (and a good reminder that OPSEC applies not only to the internet but public places and phone calls too!):
A powerpoint from the DOD
It may not seem important, but there have been many reports of foreign countries using facebook, forums such a navy for moms, and myspace to gather valuable information about our military servicemen and women. Let's not help them out!

[Anti M]

That's excellent!

[Anti M]

Bumping this up to the top of discussions.

[Keisha]

thought i would comment so females could see this helpful discussion :)