Soldiers, Family Members and Friends~
Operational Security is one of the most important deployment items to remember, and I will remind you of this often.
As our soldiers prepare for mobilization out of the country, it is imperative that you remember OPSEC.
Absolutely NO communication about inbound or outbound flights, location, mission information, etc!!! When in doubt, don't post it, email it or say it!
I have outlined what OPSEC is below, but if you have any questions about what you can and cannot post, email or say on the phone.... call me please. I don't want any of our soldier's put into harms way, because of an error in judgement that any one of us made.
Regards,
Your FRG Leader,
Tessa
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What Is OPSEC?
Operations Security, or OPSEC, is keeping
potential adversaries from discovering our
critical information. As the name suggests, it
protects our operations – planned, in progress,
and those completed. Success depends on
secrecy and surprise, so the military can accomplish
the mission faster and with less risk.
Our adversaries want our information, and they
don’t concentrate on only soldiers to get it.
They want you, the family member.
As a family member of our military
community, you are a vital player in our
success and we couldn’t do our job without
your support.
You may not know it, but you
also play a crucial role in ensuring you’re loved
one’s safety. You can protect your family and
friends by protecting what you know of the
military’s day-to-day operations.
That’s OPSEC.
Protecting Critical
Information
Even though information may not be
secret, it can be what we call “critical information.”
Critical information deals with specific
facts about military intentions, capabilities,
operations or activities. If an adversary knew
this detailed information, our mission accomplishment
and personnel safety could be jeopardized.
It must be protected to ensure an adversary
doesn’t gain a significant advantage.
By being a member of the military family,
you will often know some bits of critical information.
Do not discuss them outside of your
immediate family and especially not over the
telephone.
Examples Of Critical
Information
• Detailed information about the mission of
assigned units.
• Details on locations and times of unit
deployments.
• Personnel transactions that occur in large
numbers (Example: pay information, powers of
attorney, wills, deployment information).
• References to trends in unit morale or
personnel problems.
• Details concerning security procedures.
Puzzle Pieces
These bits of information may seem insignificant.
However, to a trained adversary, they
are small pieces of a puzzle that highlight what
we’re doing and planning. Remember, the
elements of security and surprise are vital to the
accomplishment of our goals and our collective
personnel protection.
• Where and how you discuss this information
is just as important as with whom you discuss
it. Adversary agents tasked with collecting
information frequently visit some of the same
stores, clubs, recreational areas, or places of
worship as you do.
• Determined individuals can easily collect
data from cordless and cellular phones, and
even baby monitors, using inexpensive receivers
available from local electronics stores.
• If anyone, especially a foreign national,
persistently seeks information, notify your
military sponsor immediately. He or she will
notify the unit OPSEC program manager, or the FRG Leader.
OPSEC IS A FAMILY AFFAIR.
All Family Members Are Part Of
The Army’s OPSEC Team. They Need
To Protect Information To Ensure The
Safety Of All Our Soldiers, Civilians,
And Army Families.
DISCUSS OPSEC WITH YOUR FAMILY
You Are A Vital Player
In Our Success!
