What is the rule regarding social networking site and posting about deployment? I know you shouldn't say USS XYZ left on this day and is going here, however what if it is just something general. (ie: "he left today" or stating how long the spouse will be gone) Should this type of subject be avoided? What should you do if you have seen something like this? Thanks

I don't know about surface ships, but the rule with submarines is it's generally acceptable within 24 hours. anything other than that is a no-no.

Sensitive informstion regarding troop movements, deployments, upcoming excersises, and other sensitive information should certainly not be put on a social networking site or out on the internet period. There are data mining programs that simply search for key words, phrases, names...etc across the internet, that pick up and piece together information that could be damaging to operational and personal security. If you see it report it to your chain of command or someone in authority. Not sure if there is an official reporting site or number to call.

I just try to play it safe and not mention anything about it.

I've been here 7 years and I don't know the rule. I've always played it safe--when I hear somebody say something about a ship leaving, I always assume it's something that shouldn't be common knowledge, so I leave it at that and I certainly don't post anything like HEY THE INDY IS LEAVING NEXT WEEK.

This reminds me of that scene from Airplane! Lookee:

Striker : My orders came through. My squadron ships out tomorrow, we're bombing the storage depots at Daiquiri at 18:00 hours. We're coming in from the North, below their radar.
Elaine : When will you be back?
Striker : I can't tell you that? It's classified.

I don't say anything online about it, but I have seen things like.
"I hate the first day of deployment" and "it gets easier, they will be gone 5 month"

I don't know if I should say something or just report it and keep my name out of it.

Posted By KeithJ on 02 Mar 2010 06:15 PM
I don't know about surface ships, but the rule with submarines is it's generally acceptable within 24 hours. anything other than that is a no-no.

It's the same with surface. As for someone saying they hate the first day of deployment, or that it'll be a long X number of months, I don't think that's reportable. It's not giving the name of the ship, where it's going and the date of return. The number of months might be a bit more iffy, but it's sort of a ball park amount of time and I don't think it technically breaks any major rules. For crapssake, 7th Fleet was pretty much putting their schedule in Australia up on Facebook last year. I figure I can b***h that I hate deployments today.

In my experience, generalities are acceptable, but specifics are not. Things like "We'll be going on deployment in May" or "We'll be headed back by the end of March" are fine, since they don't give you exact ship movements, and they don't talk about specific port visits or cruising areas.

Remember what they used to say on those old WW II posters:

"Loose lips sink ships." You never know when the bad guys are going to read these posts, so even if you have the slightest doubt that it's not the right thing to do, then don't do it.

So many "experts" on OPSEC who truly don't have a clue what they're talking about.

Specifics - NO
General - OK

"I miss my husband" is NOT a violation of OPSEC.
"My husband is on the USS ___________ and will depart _______ port at _______ hours" IS a violation of OPSEC.
"My family resides at ____________" is NOT a violation of OSEC (yes, someone argued with me that it was!)
"Marines with ___________ are located at __________ and will be conducting ___________operations" IS a violation of OPSEC
"My husband is a Sailor" is NOT a violation of OPSEC

If in doubt, keep your mouth shut. That goes for social network sites and casually chatting with your mailman.

 

Also, once it's been released to the media, it's fair game.

My husband was with the 24th MEU who assisted in relief missions in Haiti earlier this year. The news was 24/7 but if wives repeated what was said on the news, (mostly newbie wives) would scream OPSEC!!!! at the top of their lungs. It's not a violation of OPSEC to repeat what's already been said by those that released the information. The 24th MEU also had a FB page that was controlled BY the MEU and people would still scream OPSEC!!!
Idiots!

Just because it's on the news doesn't mean it's now "open source" info (the media may be quoting unofficial/unauthorized sources). Only when the military officially announces it does it become open source. Sometimes it's hard for people like us to know, since it isn't always clear what has been publicly announced and what hasn't, so it's always best to play it safe.