Social media is a powerful tool for posting information to keep family and friends informed and to share information with the Army community.
Social media is inherently risky, and that’s why Operations Security must play a vital role in how we access and use social networks.
Inappropriate posting of information and failure to follow established OPSEC measures could put people and the mission at risk.
OPSEC is the process of protecting sensitive and critical unclassified information that can be exploited by our adversaries. As the name suggests, OPSEC protects U.S. operations — planned, in progress and completed. Success depends on secrecy and surprise, so the military can accomplish the mission more quickly and with less risk. Our enemies want this information, and they are not just after military members to get it.
According to the U.S. Army Social Media Guide, Soldier and family readiness groups, Army spouses and Army family members need to know that posting sensitive information can be detrimental to Soldier safety.
- Always assume that our adversaries are reading every post made to a social media platform. Ensure that information posted online does not have any significant value to those adversaries.
- Even seemingly innocent posts about a family member’s deployment or redeployment date can put them at risk. Small bits of information can be assembled to make big pictures.
- The best way to protect children online is to talk with them. Be honest and open and educate them early about online risks.
Do:
- Talk to your family about OPSEC, so they know what can and cannot be posted.
- Know who you are talking to online.
- Turn off geotagging and location-based social networking on phones and digital cameras.
- Maximize your security settings on social platforms and include two-step verification, if available.
- Review your post before you publish to check that you have not included sensitive details and ask if you are unsure.
- Closely review photos or videos before posting to ensure sensitive or personal information is not released (e.g., troop locations, equipment, capabilities, tactical unit details and numbers of personnel).
Don’t:
- Post details about your assigned unit’s mission or security procedures.
- Announce the locations and times of your unit deployments.
- Release information about the death of a Service member before the next of kin is notified and the information is released by the DOD.
- Post images of damaged equipment and gear.
- Share personnel transactions (e.g., pay information, power of attorney, wills or deployment information).
- Post unit morale or personnel problems.
By practicing OPSEC, you can help prevent operational and personal information from being exploited.
The Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division issues Cybercrime Prevention Flyers to provide our communities recommendations to strengthen cyber security and help prevent computer and online crime before it occurs.
CID Lookout is a Department of the Army CID initiative to educate and inform members of the Army family and help prevent, reduce and report felony-level crime.
To anonymously report OPSEC concerns to Army CID, visit the Submit a Tip - Report a Crime website.
For information on what social media managers and Soldiers need to know about social media, review DoD Instruction (DoDI) 5400.17.
To report an OPSEC concern or to request an OPSEC review before you post to social media, contact your unit OPSEC officer or the installation OPSEC office at 573.563.2402.
— Commentary written by Marti Yoshida, Fort Leonard Wood OPSEC officer.
(Editor’s note: Content for this article was obtained from the U.S. Army Social Media Guide.)
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