OPSEC: Operational Security

I've spent a number of posts already discussing this, but it seems that there are still those who don't quite understand just how beyond important it is for us to follow OPSEC.  These rules not only keep Jay and the ship safe, they keep us safe here at home.  The phrase in the Navy is: "Loose Lips, Sink Ships".  By violating these rules you can not only damage Jay's naval career, but he can very possibly land in military prison.  They take violations of these rules that seriously.  Earlier today I got a great and simple explanation of OPSEC from the ship's FRG (Family Readiness Group):

OPSEC, OPSEC ......


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 monitor and 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, or post count downs on

FACEBOOK, or MySpace, and we take great care with the information we are

privileged to have.

When our neighbor asks "Where is your sailor now?" standard "I have

absolutely no idea, but wherever he/she is he/she is working very hard", “

Out in The Great Blue Sea", or "Out there doing his/her thing”. 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. That's right, we really do have

the hard job, and we do it well. So, that is what OPSEC means to us, the

family and friends of the Warriors of the Mighty IKE. So learn it. Keep

this passage. Then when someone requested dates from you, you can tell them

about OPSEC. Thank you Mighty IKE Family and Friends For all Your Hard work

with OPSEC



So, go to the following link. Print it out. Learn it. Keep this e-mail. Then

when someone asks you for dates you can tell them about OpSec, forward the

e-mail, or send them to the link. If they love your sailor and want to work

with you for his or her safe return, they will stop asking for specfic’s and

learn to accept the generalities that are a part of our daily lives. The

link explains it in very easy to understand terms. I intend to print several

copies and mail them off to family and friends along with a personal note

asking them to please be understanding of the fact that until the

information is released by the CAPTAIN, I won't be able to discuss

specifics.



http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/doe/opsec_primer.htm



Please, please, please help me to keep everyone on the ship and here at home safe by not asking any questions that we can't answer.  I wont be addressing these issues again, however if there are continued violations by family or friends asking us questions that we can't/won't answer there will be a loss of contact with us for a time.  We take these rules VERY seriously.