Please read the following, you and others here are putting the guys in danger with all of the information you're putting out on the internet about exact unit, location, dates, times and names.  What information that leaks out about one concerns all nearby and I want my husband to come home safely.  For any further informartion, please contact your FRG leader.  PLEASE READ:

OPSEC (Operational Security)

OPSEC, also known as Operational Security, is the principle that we, as Army wives and Army family members, 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 and in transit to/from theater (including R&R). Do not ever give dates or times.

-         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. His unit and/or FRG should provide the OPSEC guidelines for these situations. 

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 entirely too much information.

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

Never give dates or times for troop movements. Keep in mind that “next Thursday” is a date. This includes R&R dates as well as deployment and redeployment dates. Planes have been delayed for days or weeks because an excited family member made this information public.

When our soldiers are in dangerous situations, it is natural to want to reach out to others. But the above statement puts your soldier and his unit in danger. You could have very well just alerted the enemy about their mission.

It is important to realize that putting together the bits and pieces needed to create the larger picture can be amazingly simple on the internet. Many mistakenly believe that if they don’t talk about it all at once, the information is safe. This is wrong and dangerous to assume.

DEPLOYMENT TICKERS

Many family members like to use deployment tickers to count down their soldier’s deployment. Never have a ticker that shows XX days until he returns. If you must have a ticker, then have one with the amount of time he has been gone. Although it is best to not have this type of ticker at all.

Finally, for your own personal safety, be very aware of what you are putting on the internet or saying 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. This includes blacking out his name tape and rank in pictures. If he is in a special operations unit, you should also black out any unit affiliation.

Be vague about your personal information as an Army wife or Army family member on the internet. This is plain common sense in just every day life – regardless of if your family member is in the military.

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. Better safe than sorry!

Army Wife07 Hello!

Thank you for posting the Opsec.

It protects our loved ones and that is what we want.

We all want to do what is best for our troops.

Thanks for posting the outline.

If I can be of assistance to you and your deployed husband feel free to private message me.

To anyone that feels they have posted something in question you can go back and edit your post.

Blessings, door

Thank You so much for this information...I was not aware, and I have already edited ALL my posts.  I ask that everyone on this forum please edit all their posts A.S.A.P. and take out any information that the enemy can use to hurt our soldiers.  DO IT RIGHT NOW....PLEASE!

THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO PROTECT OUR SOLDIERS!

Tamra

Thank you, ArmyWife, for your post! I think many people are unaware what OpSec entails, and it's SO important for people to understand and practice it!

Because the members of this Forum are so friendly and welcoming (a great thing!) it's easy to be lulled into a false sense of security. It's a sad but true fact of the world we live in: the enemy is always looking and listening.

Would you consider also posting this in the "General Chat" section, so that everyone on this Forum reads it? 

Thanks, and welcome!!!  

EDIT: Just wanted to add, if you are confused about whether or not something you'd like to post is outside of OpSec, than err on the side of caution and DON'T POST IT.
 

Hi Ang,

I'm glad to hear that almost all of the guys are home & that you're there giving out those free hugs.  I know the guys really appreciate that.  Must feel good to set their boots on friendly ground.  I know you're anxious for Michael to get home too.  Please tell him I said "Welcome Home & thank you!".  I'd ask you to give him a hug for me, but I'm afraid you wouldn't keep it platonic enough - ha ha.  By the way, I sent you a private message.

Huge Hugs,

Hi Anita and Everyone,

I haven't heard from my son for over a week. When I hear from him I will encourage him to write something. I will have to hunt around and see if there are others from his base that have recently posted. Then I might get another name to send a letter and small package out to.

How is everyone? I hope everyone is not feeling wounded by all the harsh OPSEC scoldings we keep getting on the post and in PMs. I am glad someone is monitoring this, and appreciate gentle reminders. Oh well, guess someone has to smack us all around. I appreciate greatly having the actual OPSEC requirements within the general forum. The extra blasting on my PM - not so much appreciation. Anyway, I did make some changes after reading the very 1st OPSEC forum post. It might be good to re-post it every month or so as a gentle reminder to everyone and for newbies. What do you think?

This site has tons of positive encouragement and love for our Soldiers and their families. The support junkies are amazing and so very kind. This has meant alot to me! It looks like it has meant alot to many soldiers as they put their lives on the line as asked by our Government.

Thank you to all on this site that have offered gentle advice, encouragement, and excellent information. I love it that we help each other.

Donna

Hey Donna, Marty has responded to this here http://forum.anysoldier.com/forums/p/7113/41261.aspx#41261 and here http://forum.anysoldier.com/forums/p/38/41300.aspx#41300

We are all here to support and love on our troops, their well being is our reason for being here! If you had something up that was inappropriate, someone will catch it and it was great you removed anything that was... i personally didn't see the posts that started this. That said, pm blasting and scoldings and smacking around is inappropriate itself. You keep on girl. Shelly

Enough of the scoldings via PMs.

If you get a 'scolding' PM or ANY PM that isn't helpful, please forward to marty@AnySoldier.com

I promise that will be that person's last abuse of this forum.

OK, now my happy face button is here somewhere..... :)

Hi Donna!

First a big Thank you for your family's love and sacrifices.  We ALL love you back and our hearts and prayers are with the safety of your son, his unit, and all of our military.  Please give him my best.

I posted on the Newbie Permathread (I hope it is still there...lol) that, as a reminder, we were all (except for those raised in military families, I'm guessing) newbies with a lot to learn at one time and there should be no need for scolding, just gentle guidance and teaching.  Heck, if we all waited to post or ask questions until we knew everything, there would be no need for the forum, huh?  I appreciated seeing the OPSEC stuff myself as I am still learning.  I can't imagine what you are going through and the "grasping at straws" of information must make it feel like you are gasping for air in worry over your son.  I wish you peace and that he returns safe and sound to you soon.  If I can be of any assistance, please don't hesitate to ask even though I have not special knowlege.  I'll be a support if you just need an ear, ok?  And the same goes for anyone out there.

Best wishes and hugs,

Debbie

Hey Donna,

I just wanted you to know that I requested your son's address and will get him out some boxes this week.  I have other contacts in Afghanistan too, but I don't think in Korengal Valley.

Just know that we are here for the soldiers and the families of the soldiers.  Their sacrifice is appreciated by all.  I am so proud of your son as I know you are too.  It is a pleasure to meet you.

Mimi 

Debbie,

What a fantastic group of people there are on this forum. Thank you so much Debbie! I haven't had alot of time to read through everything on the AS site. With so many kind people, I have used the time in the evenings to respond back. As I have fumbled my way along with the site, several kind people have given me detailed help. For example, I would never have known about the FRG site without the AS forum telling me about it and sending the link. That enabled me to get my son's mailing address. I felt like I had struck gold!! I have also been given forum links to family members that might have their soldier at the same post as my son. I love this! Now I can send letters and stuff to them also. I feel blessed to have come across this AS site. I am looking forward to when I am reaching out to other parents and soldiers on AS. Maybe someday I will be an actual "support junkie." I already have a great idea about an item I think the soldiers could use: Those giant, 20 gallon and 10 gallon Zip Lock bags for keeping the sand out of their stuff. I am sending a box of each to Garrett's section to see if they like them. 

 I would like to send a thank you to the guys that were there before my son's section. Sounds like they had it much rougher and did much of the setting up that the soldiers are now benefitting from. It is important that they are recognized for their hard work in making it better for the next guy.

I was such a wreck when Garrett first left. Especially with some of the information he heard on the way there and that we had heard stateside. I am still not sleeping that great because I stay up way to late hoping to catch him online. Then I work a crazy amount of hours most days.  This is probably normal stuff and I will likely settle down over time. I just try to remember how fortunate we are with todays technology. I don't know how other parents coped with not hearing anything for months during other wars.

It is something to think of my son as a highly trained warrior. It seems like it was yesterday that he was just a boy playing his saxophone for everyone, monopolizing the computer for games, and coming home muddy from group paintball with his buddies.

Debbie, thank you for your wishes. Your kind note is excellent support.

Donna

Hi Mimi,

Thank you for your care. I am touched by the support and I think the soldiers spirits will be much uplifted when they get their packages and letters. I'll bet it really gives them something to look forward to.

After getting a chance to look around on the site a little tonight I discovered the Anysoldier.com products page. I have to get some of those AS cards for the packages and letters, bumper stickers - hmmm didn't see the magnet ones - have to look again. Definately want the coffee mug for work. Can hardly wait till I get paid next week to get this stuff for myself and others. Gotta support this most excellent site!

I hope I hear from Garrett soon.  I stay up way too late just hoping to see him online, then am tired for work the next day. I do not know how parents coped during other wars. I try to keep in mind how fortunate we are with todays technology.

Best Wishes,
Donna

Wow, Donna... Wow.  You and the other moms and family members are a window into a whole new world for us.  There have been very few family members who posted regularly in the past (though Angela from the 173rd in the KOP has been one of them!) and what you're sharing as you navigate this experience is priceless.  I think we all have an idea in our heads of what family members go through when their loved one is deployed, but I know our hearts are just growing and stretching to even greater capacity as we get to experience the whole process from your point of view.  You are so valuable to us-yes, to our practical junkie selves in search of support/package advice, but mostly to our hearts as we long to find ways to learn and to show our appreciation for the sacrifice ALL of you make.  My guess is, AS probably wasn't exactly what you were in search of, but we're ALL so glad that by some miracle you found us!

Hi, sorry you were scolded, that doesn't usually happen here.  I'm guessing a family member is frantic over the safety of their soldier and is just trying to keep them safe.  It's good for us all to be reminded from time to time, this is such a friendly, helpful place it's easy to forget someone out their might not have the same point of view that we do of our heroes.

Donna I think your idea of those big bags is a good one, think I'll pick some up as well as the large trash bags.  Bet they could use them for all sorts of things.

I scored about 130 free tins of tobacco this weekend, always have mixed emotions about sending it but I know the guys want it,  so do what I can in that dept.

Have a good week everyone,  Anita

Donna,

I hear what you are saying, I log on constantly to see if my son has sent any e-mails or if there are any updates on AS.  It is so hard to have our boys so far away doing this great thing for our country.

I love to read the updates and see the picture from soldiers who I don't even know, it makes me feel closer to my son. When he was in TX we talked almost every day, now as 1 week closes and we go into another week I can only hope and pray that he is safe and all is well.

 Anita, How the heck were you able to score all those tins of tobacco? I know it is hard to send these types of things, but it will so boost their moral.

Angela