What is OPSEC?
By definition, Operational Security (OPSEC) is "a set of procedures outlining how to avoid compromising the mission's integrity." In our case, the rules are set forth to help protect information concerning the military, which in turn protects our loved ones.
Why is OPSEC important?
With the advent of the internet, it has become increasingly easier for individuals and organizations to learn information about our military. Small bits of information may not seem important when we post them online, but when someone combines that with other information they could piece together entire troop movement plans or classified intelligence. If that information is in the wrong hands it can be very deadly.
How does the information get to the wrong people?
Try googling your screen name. What you will find is that all of our posts in the public areas of the board are indexed by the World Wide Web and can be viewed by anyone. It is just as easy for these individuals to google unit and city names. The results of their query may not show our posts in on the first 100 pages of results, but the folks looking for this type of information will dig deep enough and parse through every single result. Once they discover that there is a collection of military family members in any given area, the next step is to pose as a poster and request access to password protected areas. This is why we are insisting that even the password protected areas follow the rules of OPSEC.
What are The Ten Rules of OPSEC?
1. Don't discuss current or future destinations.
2. Don't discuss current or future operations or missions.
3. Don't discuss current or future dates and times of when Marines will be in station or conducting exercises.
4. Don't discuss readiness issues and numbers.
5. Don't discuss specific training equipment.
6. Don't discuss people's names and billets in conjunction with operations.
7. Don't speculate about current or future operations.
8. Don't spread rumors about current, future, or past operations or movements.
9. Don't assume the enemy is not trying to collect information on you; he is.
10. Be smart, use your head, and always think OPSEC when using email, phone, chat rooms, and message boards.
How can we practice OPSEC on Yuku?
Posts: Please run through the above OPSEC rules prior to posting on the board. Keep in mind that dates, places, equipment, and personal information are the primary causes of OPSEC violations.
Tickers: All tickers relating to deployment and troop movements must count up from the date of departure. Tickers counting down to the date of return endanger the safety of those Marines trying to return home. Tickers relating to birthdays, holidays, and other non-military events are allowed to count down.
Posting about Casualties
Please do NOT post about casualties until the names of the injured have been officially released on DefenseLink.mil. Posting about casualties prior to that point causes a lot of worry to those who have not heard from their loved one recently. When posting about the casualty, please be sure to state the name of the individual and link to the official press release from DefenseLink.mil .
Thank you for your cooperation!
-- Board Admins and Moderators
By definition, Operational Security (OPSEC) is "a set of procedures outlining how to avoid compromising the mission's integrity." In our case, the rules are set forth to help protect information concerning the military, which in turn protects our loved ones.
Why is OPSEC important?
With the advent of the internet, it has become increasingly easier for individuals and organizations to learn information about our military. Small bits of information may not seem important when we post them online, but when someone combines that with other information they could piece together entire troop movement plans or classified intelligence. If that information is in the wrong hands it can be very deadly.
How does the information get to the wrong people?
Try googling your screen name. What you will find is that all of our posts in the public areas of the board are indexed by the World Wide Web and can be viewed by anyone. It is just as easy for these individuals to google unit and city names. The results of their query may not show our posts in on the first 100 pages of results, but the folks looking for this type of information will dig deep enough and parse through every single result. Once they discover that there is a collection of military family members in any given area, the next step is to pose as a poster and request access to password protected areas. This is why we are insisting that even the password protected areas follow the rules of OPSEC.
What are The Ten Rules of OPSEC?
1. Don't discuss current or future destinations.
2. Don't discuss current or future operations or missions.
3. Don't discuss current or future dates and times of when Marines will be in station or conducting exercises.
4. Don't discuss readiness issues and numbers.
5. Don't discuss specific training equipment.
6. Don't discuss people's names and billets in conjunction with operations.
7. Don't speculate about current or future operations.
8. Don't spread rumors about current, future, or past operations or movements.
9. Don't assume the enemy is not trying to collect information on you; he is.
10. Be smart, use your head, and always think OPSEC when using email, phone, chat rooms, and message boards.
How can we practice OPSEC on Yuku?
Posts: Please run through the above OPSEC rules prior to posting on the board. Keep in mind that dates, places, equipment, and personal information are the primary causes of OPSEC violations.
Tickers: All tickers relating to deployment and troop movements must count up from the date of departure. Tickers counting down to the date of return endanger the safety of those Marines trying to return home. Tickers relating to birthdays, holidays, and other non-military events are allowed to count down.
Posting about Casualties
Please do NOT post about casualties until the names of the injured have been officially released on DefenseLink.mil. Posting about casualties prior to that point causes a lot of worry to those who have not heard from their loved one recently. When posting about the casualty, please be sure to state the name of the individual and link to the official press release from DefenseLink.mil .
Thank you for your cooperation!
-- Board Admins and Moderators
