OPSEC - personal and operational safety

**Corey** · 12-13-2005, 08:47 AM

OPSEC or Operational Security

OPSEC & PERSEC

OPSEC, also known as Operational Security, are the principles that we should all abide by when talking about our soldiers. If you’ve been on any military related message board on the internet, you have more than likely seen a warning to be sure to practice OPSEC. This means protecting the information you know about your soldier and his unit.

Generally, it means that you should not give out the following:

- Your soldier’s exact location overseas
- Any information on troop movements – this includes any movement while they are deployed, in transit to/from theater, etc. Do not ever give dates.
- Any information on weapons systems, how they train or numbers – for this reason, many pictures from overseas can easily violate OPSEC

If your soldier is in a special operations unit, the OPSEC guidelines can be stricter. You may not be able to say he is deployed at all much less where he is.

Always abide by the rules set forth by his unit. Just because it is on the news does not mean that you can talk about the issue. By talking about it, you are only verifying the information.

CORRECT:
My soldier is deployed in support of Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom

INCORRECT:
My soldier is in XYZ Unit and is stationed at ABC Camp in XXX city in Iraq.

Give only general locations IF his unit allows it. The above incorrect statement is way too much information.

INCORRECT: My soldier’s unit is returning from deployment and flying into XYZ Airport at 8pm next Tuesday.

Never give dates or times for troop movements. This includes R&R dates as well as deployment dates. Planes have been known to be delayed for days or weeks because this information was made public by an excited spouse.

DEPLOYMENT TICKERS
Many spouses like to use deployment tickers to count down their soldier’s deployment. Never have a ticker that shows XX days until s/he returns. If you must have a ticker, then have one with the amount of time s/he has been gone.

Finally, for your own personal safety, be very aware of what you are putting on the internet or in conversations in public. With the internet, it is not difficult to track down an address and phone number. Do not make yourself a target by letting the world know that your husband is deployed.

PERSEC
PERSEC is also known as personal security. Like OPSEC, this involves guarding the information that you know. Do not give out your soldier’s name along with rank. Be vague about your personal information on the internet. This is plain common sense in just every day life – regardless of if your husband is in the military.

How much personal information you post is, of course, a personal choice, but think about it BEFORE you make a post and decide what's right for *you*.

The old saying loose lips sink ships still holds true today. Keep your soldier, your family and his unit safe by keeping the information you know to yourself. You never know who is lurking and gathering information on message boards, myspace pages and profiles, etc. Better safe than sorry!

For more info: http://www.militaryspot.com/resources/opsec-and-persec/

If you believe that you see an OPSEC violation on the boards, use the exclamation point icon to report the post to the staff to take care of it. Thank you!

FYI, OPSEC issues will be edited out of posts by staff.

**Corey** · 06-25-2006, 10:38 PM

Everyone, please remember not to use specific deploying or return dates in your posts. Be vague when it comes to stuff like that.

The admins and mods are going to be on the lookout so if you receive a PM regarding an OPSEC concern, please know that we are not singling you out but are trying to help protect our troops.

**Corey** · 06-12-2007, 10:36 PM

Ltwhtdove · 06-22-2007, 01:45 PM

thanks for the

Corey! It is good to be reminded of these things.

Love

Susan

Steph · 06-19-2008, 03:37 PM

Read, Agreed, Signed

**Innervision** · 02-22-2009, 04:11 PM

AOFinnysGirl · 02-23-2009, 12:28 AM

Woopsy forgot ... sorry!

AFWife1029 · 05-26-2009, 07:05 PM

*bump*

mcc15 · 05-26-2009, 07:50 PM

I never knew any of that, thank you!

fell4myenemy15 · 07-30-2009, 06:40 PM

read, agreed, signed

devil_soldier_078 · 11-15-2009, 08:57 PM

read, agreed, signed

woman2blame · 12-30-2009, 09:35 AM

Gotcha.

NikkoKitty · 01-03-2010, 01:23 AM

"Loose tweets sink fleets. Watch what you put on the internet!"

missjenn00 · 01-03-2010, 09:52 AM

read agreed and signed

knf2713 · 01-04-2010, 06:02 PM

Got it!

SammaJamma · 01-05-2010, 10:30 AM

I know all to well about opsec..the army drills it into you brain lol

Heather0315 · 01-05-2010, 10:22 PM

got it=]

Snookums · 01-07-2010, 01:58 PM

BrittGRITS · 01-07-2010, 06:23 PM

Got it, thanks!

**Corey** · 01-07-2010, 06:34 PM

If you believe that you see an OPSEC violation on the boards, use the exclamation point icon to report the post to the staff to take care of it. Thank you!

12-13-2005, 08:47 AM	#1
Corey Administrator Site Admin Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: OK Posts: 24,038 My Mood:	OPSEC - personal and operational safety OPSEC or Operational Security OPSEC & PERSEC OPSEC, also known as Operational Security, are the principles that we should all abide by when talking about our soldiers. If you’ve been on any military related message board on the internet, you have more than likely seen a warning to be sure to practice OPSEC. This means protecting the information you know about your soldier and his unit. Generally, it means that you should not give out the following: - Your soldier’s exact location overseas - Any information on troop movements – this includes any movement while they are deployed, in transit to/from theater, etc. Do not ever give dates. - Any information on weapons systems, how they train or numbers – for this reason, many pictures from overseas can easily violate OPSEC If your soldier is in a special operations unit, the OPSEC guidelines can be stricter. You may not be able to say he is deployed at all much less where he is. Always abide by the rules set forth by his unit. Just because it is on the news does not mean that you can talk about the issue. By talking about it, you are only verifying the information. CORRECT: My soldier is deployed in support of Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom INCORRECT: My soldier is in XYZ Unit and is stationed at ABC Camp in XXX city in Iraq. Give only general locations IF his unit allows it. The above incorrect statement is way too much information. INCORRECT: My soldier’s unit is returning from deployment and flying into XYZ Airport at 8pm next Tuesday. Never give dates or times for troop movements. This includes R&R dates as well as deployment dates. Planes have been known to be delayed for days or weeks because this information was made public by an excited spouse. DEPLOYMENT TICKERS Many spouses like to use deployment tickers to count down their soldier’s deployment. Never have a ticker that shows XX days until s/he returns. If you must have a ticker, then have one with the amount of time s/he has been gone. Finally, for your own personal safety, be very aware of what you are putting on the internet or in conversations in public. With the internet, it is not difficult to track down an address and phone number. Do not make yourself a target by letting the world know that your husband is deployed. PERSEC PERSEC is also known as personal security. Like OPSEC, this involves guarding the information that you know. Do not give out your soldier’s name along with rank. Be vague about your personal information on the internet. This is plain common sense in just every day life – regardless of if your husband is in the military. *How much personal information you post is, of course, a personal choice, but think about it BEFORE you make a post and decide what's right for you.* The old saying loose lips sink ships still holds true today. Keep your soldier, your family and his unit safe by keeping the information you know to yourself. You never know who is lurking and gathering information on message boards, myspace pages and profiles, etc. Better safe than sorry! For more info: http://www.militaryspot.com/resources/opsec-and-persec/ If you believe that you see an OPSEC violation on the boards, use the exclamation point icon to report the post to the staff to take care of it. Thank you! FYI, OPSEC issues will be edited out of posts by staff. __________________ Last edited by Corey; 07-27-2011 at 07:27 AM.

06-25-2006, 10:38 PM	#2
Corey Administrator Site Admin Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: OK Posts: 24,038 My Mood:	Re: OPSEC - personal and operational safety Everyone, please remember not to use specific deploying or return dates in your posts. Be vague when it comes to stuff like that. The admins and mods are going to be on the lookout so if you receive a PM regarding an OPSEC concern, please know that we are not singling you out but are trying to help protect our troops. __________________ Last edited by Corey; 02-25-2009 at 05:31 PM.

06-12-2007, 10:36 PM	#3
Corey Administrator Site Admin Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: OK Posts: 24,038 My Mood:	Re: OPSEC - personal and operational safety __________________

06-22-2007, 01:45 PM	#4
Ltwhtdove I Love My Airman You can't touch this! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: MO Posts: 5,533	Re: OPSEC - personal and operational safety thanks for the Corey! It is good to be reminded of these things. Love Susan

06-19-2008, 03:37 PM	#5
Steph I love my marine! Getting warmer Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Duluth, MN/ Fargo, ND Posts: 113	Re: OPSEC - personal and operational safety Read, Agreed, Signed

02-22-2009, 04:11 PM	#6
Innervision Super Moderator Super Mod Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Utah Posts: 27,539 My Mood:	Re: OPSEC - personal and operational safety __________________ *Γνῶθι σεαυτόν*

02-23-2009, 12:28 AM	#7
AOFinnysGirl Senior Member Getting warmer Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 346 My Mood:	Re: OPSEC - personal and operational safety Woopsy forgot ... sorry!

05-26-2009, 07:05 PM	#8
AFWife1029 Enjoying life I'm a posting machine! Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: omaha nebraska Posts: 1,346 My Mood:	Re: OPSEC - personal and operational safety bump __________________ Crystal Deployment #6 done Check out my websites I offer landscape photos for purchase. http://cjwuensche.smugmug.com https://www.facebook.com/C.J.WuenschePhoto

05-26-2009, 07:50 PM	#9
mcc15 I miss my babe!!! Getting warmer Join Date: May 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 156 My Mood:	Re: OPSEC - personal and operational safety I never knew any of that, thank you!

07-30-2009, 06:40 PM	#10
fell4myenemy15 missing the coast already I'm a posting machine! Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,630 My Mood:	Re: OPSEC - personal and operational safety read, agreed, signed __________________ Distance is not for the fearful, it is for the bold. It's for those who are willing to spend a lot of time alone in exchange for a little time with the one they love. It's for those knowing a good thing when they see it, even if they don't see it nearly enough Wifey to Poison_Ivy her BEFORE the in-laws her AFTER the in-laws

11-15-2009, 08:57 PM	#11
devil_soldier_078 Member Getting warmer Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Ft Campbell KY Posts: 93	Re: OPSEC - personal and operational safety read, agreed, signed

12-30-2009, 09:35 AM	#12
woman2blame Help me Tom Cruise! Getting warmer Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: I currently live in the worst place imaginable but we're pcs'ing soon. Posts: 470 My Mood:	Re: OPSEC - personal and operational safety Gotcha.

01-03-2010, 01:23 AM	#13
NikkoKitty Nerdy Navy Wife Wow, look at me go! Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Oak Harbor, WA Posts: 3,340 My Mood:	Re: OPSEC - personal and operational safety "Loose tweets sink fleets. Watch what you put on the internet!"

01-03-2010, 09:52 AM	#14
missjenn00 Member just warming up Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 36 My Mood:	Re: OPSEC - personal and operational safety read agreed and signed

01-04-2010, 06:02 PM	#15
knf2713 Standing Still Getting warmer Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 108 My Mood:	Re: OPSEC - personal and operational safety Got it!

01-05-2010, 10:30 AM	#16
SammaJamma Junior Member just warming up Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 29	Re: OPSEC - personal and operational safety I know all to well about opsec..the army drills it into you brain lol

01-05-2010, 10:22 PM	#17
Heather0315 ~beautiful disaster~ Getting warmer Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Yelm, WA Posts: 253 My Mood:	Re: OPSEC - personal and operational safety got it=] __________________

01-07-2010, 01:58 PM	#18
Snookums MSOS's Army Mommy Getting warmer Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Hawaii Posts: 52 My Mood:	Re: OPSEC - personal and operational safety

01-07-2010, 06:23 PM	#19
BrittGRITS Senior Member Getting warmer Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 313 My Mood:	Re: OPSEC - personal and operational safety Got it, thanks!

01-07-2010, 06:34 PM	#20
Corey Administrator Site Admin Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: OK Posts: 24,038 My Mood:	Re: OPSEC - personal and operational safety *If you believe that you see an OPSEC* violation on the boards, use the exclamation point icon to report the post to the staff to take care of it. Thank you!** __________________