What is military OPSEC

(Operational Security)

    The military asks that all soldiers, Marines, sailors and airmen [and their families] practice "Continuous OPSEC" (Operation Security.) The following guidelines have been provided from a number of DOD sources for military personnel, contractors and family members.

Providing the following information on this or any public forum may be a violation of OPSEC:

DEPLOYMENTS

• The identity of units planned for deployments is confidential until an official announcement of the deployment is made.
• General geographic location of units deployed (E.G. city, country or area) is NOT classified.
• Specific geographic location of units is confidential.
• Details of allied military participation is operations is secret.

THE WEB: The global reach of the world wide web requires special precautions be taken when posting information. The following types of information shall not be posted to any publicly accessable web sites:

• Information that is for official use only (FOUO). This type of information would pose an unacceptable risk to the [military], especially in electronically aggregated form. While records containing FOUO information will normally be marked at the time of their creation, records that do not bear such markings shall be assumed to contain FOUO information.  
   
• Analysis and recommendations concerning lessons learned which reveal sensitive military operations, exercises or vulnerabilities.
   
• Reference to unclassified information that would reveal sensitive movements of military assets or the location of units, installations, or personnel where uncertainty regarding location is an element of military plan or program.
   
• Personal information including complilations of names of personnel assigned to overseas, sensitive, or routinely deployable units.
   
• Names, locations, and specific identifying information about family members or military personnel and employees.
   
• Technical information that can be used or be adapted for use to design, engineer, produce, manufacture, operate, repair, overhaul, or reproduce any military or space equipment or technology concerning such equipment.
   
• Unclassified information pertaining to classified programs.
  

*A Note *

After reviewing the preceeding guidelines we realize that you may or may not agree with all of the above. Your safety and that of your family is ultimately your responsibility. It is not the burden of this or any forum you belong to, their members or even the military. Please use your best judgement while addressing any forum or chat room, and remain aware of information you may be passing on to strangers.