OPSEC is a Family Affair! KNOW IT WELL

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!