OPSEC is a very important part of being active and posting on the MilitarySOS.com forums. The discussions and interactive nature of the site sometimes allow people to feel a sense of security, making it easy to discuss and divulge sensitive information.

I'd like everyone to please review our OPSEC page (http://militarysos.com/index.php?page=opsec) with our policies on what can and cannot be discussed on the forums.

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What OPSEC means to you on the MilitarySOS Forums:

OPSEC is taken very seriously on our forums. Any violations of OPSEC will be promptly edited/removed and any future occurrences of breaking OPSEC will result in an automatic ban, with possible reports to the proper chain of command.

Things you are NEVER allowed to post under any circumstances:

* ship/troop movement - this includes locations, arrival and departure dates, upcoming port visits and any other specifics pertaining to the present or future location or movement
* personal information - addresses, phone numbers, last names, etc.
* countdown tickers - please do not post tickers that countdown to homecoming, but feel free to post countup tickers that count the number of days that your loved one has been gone

If you feel comfortable with exchanging personal information (address, phone number and last name) for get togethers and group exchanges, you may do so at your discretion through private messaging, with members you trust. Please be cautious with whom you trust and give personal information to.

Make sure you have some sort of established relationship with a member who you decide to share your information with. If a new member who you don't know sends you a message asking for any type of personal information, please make sure this person has a legit reason for asking before you give them any type of information.

Remember, even when the news is talking about homecoming dates, they usually do not have accurate information, they are merely counting up by 6 months or however long the deployment is supposed to last. So, it's usually not a good idea to post specific homecoming dates, even if you feel like they are public knowledge.

OPSEC guidelines are serious business here, not because we like to edit posts and signatures or want to be mean, but because we all sincerely care about our troops' safety. With message boards becoming more popular and easily accessible by anyone, it's so easy for people with bad intentions to get ahold of sensitive information, piece it all together, and put together plans that could seriously jeopardize not only our troops but our country, as well.

So, please think twice before posting information that you feel could be sensitive. When in doubt, ask any member of staff before posting. I like to use the phrase "When in doubt, just leave it out". If you don't know for sure if you can post it, please don't.

thanks for the reminder!!

thanks Brandi!!

I always remember...loose lips sink ships.

Thanks Brandi for the reminder!

Thanks for the reminder Brandi.. there seems to be a rash of personal information on the board lately.

Thanks for the reminder Brandi.. there seems to be a rash of personal information on the board lately.

Yeah, there does, but I honestly believe it's mostly b/c people simply do not know any better. I remember when I first came onto message boards back in 2000, I think, and I had no idea the importance of OPSEC. The first step is making sure people know about it though, because I know everyone on here would happily follow the rules to keep their loved ones safe. Most of the newbies just don't know better.

Always keeping us in line, thanks!

Yeah, there does, but I honestly believe it's mostly b/c people simply do not know any better. I remember when I first came onto message boards back in 2000, I think, and I had no idea the importance of OPSEC. The first step is making sure people know about it though, because I know everyone on here would happily follow the rules to keep their loved ones safe. Most of the newbies just don't know better.

very true...but thanks for keeping a reminder up :yes :yourock

Yeah, there does, but I honestly believe it's mostly b/c people simply do not know any better. I remember when I first came onto message boards back in 2000, I think, and I had no idea the importance of OPSEC. The first step is making sure people know about it though, because I know everyone on here would happily follow the rules to keep their loved ones safe. Most of the newbies just don't know better.

I am not new to the OPSEC, but I am guilty of TMI, but dont worry I will not be doing it anymore.

thanks!!

bumping for the Newbies!!!

LADIES PLEASE make sure you are following OPSEC guidelines STRICTLY!!

No information on ports, times, dates, locations, movement, planned missions, etc. This is for the safety of our service members!!! We keep the information under wraps to keep them safe!!! :thanks

:bump

I am reading this for the first time and although I haven't posted anything of that nature, I can't believe how many posts I have read where that info was given out.. crazy!

thanks for reminding.

:bump There have been quite a few countdown tickers lately, as well as specific dates being post. Please make sure you are aware of the site's policies regarding OPSEC! We want to keep our men and women safe!

Thanks!!!!

Thanks for the update..am going to change it now..

I like re-reading things everyonce in a while. You rock Brandi.

:yourock Brandi!

I just wanted to say thank you.
I'm new to this site and new to this way of life. I have a lot of family member in various branches of the military, so I never thought that a relationship with a military man would be hard. Now I'm faced with the reality of not seeing or calling him whenever I want.
I've been with my boyfriend for well over a year, and he recently enlisted in the Navy.
He'll be on the east coast (as a cali girl, it seems a million miles away) for boot camp, and then school for 4 years. After that he has another 4 years of active duty.
I love him, in my heart I believe we can make it work.
But I'm scared.
I just wanted to say thank you, because knowing that other people are going through
the same things make it seem not so bad and not so impossible.
Thank you

I appreciate the reminder-I am new, and caught myself having to edit, almost giving TMI. I am appreciative...I think this should be posted on the homepage if it isn't (I didn't see it there, but that doesn't mean that I missed it)

countdown tickers - please do not post tickers that countdown to homecoming

Personally, I feel all these "donut" checks and saying the percentage ur donut is at is basically the same as a countdown ticker. All someone has to do is see if u posted when ur DH left, see u just posted ur "donut" is at 50% and do some math.

But I'm pretty anal about putting things out there and probably go overboard. I used to refuse to put what base we were even at and what DH's rate was before he became a "public figure" and that info is on the internet, in yearbooks, etc. But when we move from here, I will again go to "we're in Northern FL" instead of our actual base and not post his rate....Like I said, I probably go overboard, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

This is maybe a silly question, but forgive me, I'm a newbie (to this forum and to the military life). But is posting something like "my husband is being deployed to Afghanistan in 6 months" in violation of OPSEC? Although that's not true, it's just an example . . how specific or non-specific are you supposed to get when announcing things like relocating or deployments?

Thanks for your help. :)

now i amworried that i did give out to much on yahoo mess. Help I am worried or is yahoo pretty safe.

now i amworried that i did give out to much on yahoo mess. Help I am worried or is yahoo pretty safe.
on the internet even messengers you should NEVER discuss troop movements or specific dates and/or locations of your SO.

:bump

:bump Some people need to read the bit about TROOP MOVEMENT.

:bump Some people need to read the bit about TROOP MOVEMENT.

Yea I saw that earlier. You aren't supposed to write when your DB/DF/DH is going out on missions!

:bump

bumping for some of the newbies :)

:thanks for this - I've been seeing way too much info about port visits and stuff being shared... :no :no That's just not right, at least I feel that way anyway...

This CLEARLY needs a :bump

:bumping

please dont forget how important this is!