Maintaining Operational security

MaintainingOperational security

An Exercise for Military Family Members

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Purpose

These Scenarios will help you:

Become familiar with common situations in which OPSEC can be compromised by military family members

Identify ways in which family members can react to these situations to maintain OPSEC

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directionsEach scenario depicts common situations which military family members may encounter. At various points within the scenario, you will be presented with options as to which course of action the family member should take to best preserve OPSEC.

You must consider the consequences of each option, and choose the best course of action for each scenario.

After you choose a response, you’ll be provided with information as to what the best option is for each scenario and why.

You can also click on the for more detailed information.

Press “Esc” at any time to exit this program.

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Maintaining OpSecChoose a scenario:

PARENTS CHILDRENSPOUSES

Amanda, a new Military SpouseAmanda and Mike have been married for 4 months. Mike is a Private First Class who has been in the Army for about a year and a half, and Amanda works as a server in a local restaurant off post. They live in an on-post apartment provided by the military on Ft. Campbell, Kentucky.

While Mike has been serving in the Army for the last year and a half, Amanda only recently moved to Ft. Campbell to live with Mike after they got married. Amanda doesn’t know much about life on a military post besides what she’s heard from Mike and the unit’s FRG leader, but feels confident she can do well in her new role as a military spouse.

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Telephone talkA few months after Amanda moved to Ft. Campbell, Mike received orders directing him to deploy to Afghanistan. The time for him to leave is quickly approaching, and details of the unit’s exact departure date and time have been communicated to the Soldiers’ immediate family members. The family members were instructed to safeguard this information and maintain OPSEC at all times.

During a telephone conversation, Mike’s mother asks Amanda for the exact date and time of Mike’s departure. When Amanda gives a general answer, instead of the specific date and time, Mike’s mother presses on, insistent that Amanda tell her when Mike is leaving.

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Amanda’s dilemmaWhat should Amanda tell Mike’s mother? Click on the best answer.

“I’m sorry, Sheila, but it’s not a good idea to say that information over the phone. Why don’t you go

ahead and book a flight for early next week, and we can talk about it when you arrive here.”

“OK, Sheila, I’m sorry. Mike’s unit is leaving next Thursday evening.”

Just giving out the date over the phone won’t hurt anything, right?

“OK, Sheila, I’m sorry. Mike is leaving Thursday, September 23rd, at 7:45pm.”

Sheila is Mike’s mother after all, doesn’t she have a right to know this information?

What would the commander say?SAFE: It’s never a good idea to discuss specific information about a unit’s movement schedule or deployment location over the telephone. When in

doubt, the best course of action is to maintain OPSEC and safeguard the details of a unit’s deployment.

RISKY: Even giving the specific day and general time of departure over the telephone is risky. Even though that information isn’t classified, it could still

get into the wrong hands and compromise the security of Mike’s unit on the day they deploy.

DANGEROUS: Although it may be tempting to provide extended family members with specific information

about a deployment, that information should be limited only to immediate family members and should never, ever be discussed over the telephone or sent in a text

message.

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Post accessA few months into Mike’s deployment, Amanda is working one evening and is introduced to a Luann, a new employee at the restaurant. Luann and Amanda start chatting, and seem to be getting along well. Luann tells Amanda that her boyfriend is a Soldier who is stationed at Ft. Campbell, and she wants to visit him after work. Luann’s problem is that she doesn’t have a military ID, and isn’t allowed access on post without an escort who has an ID.

Luann asks Amanda if she would mind giving her a ride to Ft. Campbell and getting her access to post so that she can visit her boyfriend.

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Amanda’s dilemmaHow should Amanda respond to Luann? Click on the best answer.

“I’m not going to post after work tonight. I have a dinner date with a good friend at Houlihan’s. Vicki

might be able to take you, she lives on post and has a military ID.”

“Sure, I’ll give you a ride and get you on post. What time are you scheduled to get off work?”

Luann seems harmless enough. Besides, she’s a co-worker and Amanda doesn’t want to start their relationship off on the

wrong foot.

“I’m not going to post after work tonight. I have a dinner date with a good friend. There’s a phone

behind the bar, you can call your boyfriend to pick you up if you want.”

What would the commander say?RISKY: Never volunteer information about another

military family. Although you may not be granting post access to someone you don’t know well, passing the risk to another Service member’s family is never ok,

even if the person asking seems harmless.

DANGEROUS: Military family members should never assist anyone they don’t know well in gaining access to

post. Entering a military post gives the unknown person a view of security operations and post layout,

which could be very dangerous information if communicated to our nation’s adversaries.

SAFE: If you’re concerned about maintaining personal relationships, instead of compromising installation

security, direct the person in question to other, more secure means of accessing post--someone who knows

the person asking for access to an installation.

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Social networkingAfter a long year of overseas deployment, the time has finally come for Mike to leave Afghanistan and return home to Ft. Campbell. Amanda is so excited she can barely contain herself! It has been a very tough year, and Amanda has formed a network of fellow military spouses on Facebook—some who she knows personally, and some who she has never met in person. Amanda really wants to share this excitement with her network of friends on Facebook, but can’t decide how to phrase her status.

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Amanda’s dilemmaWhat should Amanda type as her Facebook status? Click on the best answer.

“I’m so excited! Mike is coming home this week! I’ve missed him so much! I’m tired of being here

all alone.”

“I can’t wait to see Mike get off the plane tomorrow afternoon with his platoon! Afterward the

Commander is hosting a celebration at Houlihan’s!”

“I’m so excited! Thanks to everyone who has supported Mike and I this past year. It’s been

tough, but soon we’ll be back together!”

What would the commander say?DANGEROUS: Facebook can be a very dangerous place for military Service Members and their families.

Posting a unit’s date of return from deployment is never a good idea. It’s also very dangerous to post that a military spouse is living alone during a deployment.

RISKY: Posting days and even general times of day of a unit’s movement are very dangerous. Also, sharing any information about private unit

celebrations online can be a threat to everyone in attendance.

SAFE: It is understandable that military spouses are overcome with excitement at the prospect of their loved ones returning home from deployment. However, it is

important to maintain OPSEC for the safety of the unit. The less information shared online, the better.

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Reunion and reintegrationAfter Mike’s return from deployment, Amanda discussed with him the questionable situations in which she found herself regarding OPSEC. Mike confirmed that Amanda made the right decisions by safeguarding specific information about his unit’s location and movement schedule, and expressed his pride in her good judgment as a military spouse.

Although Amanda hadn’t been a military spouse for long before Mike’s deployment, she realized that maintaining OPSEC was her part in keeping his unit safe before, during, and after deployment.

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Decision feedback

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MOSTLY SAFE ANSWERS: You’re a “GO!” at this station! You have a good idea of how to react in situations where OPSEC might be compromised by military family members.

MOSTLY RISKY ANSWERS: When in doubt, disclosing LESS information is always a better choice. If you find yourself in a questionable situation, keep in mind that maintaining OPSEC is the highest priority. Check with your FRG Leader and unit Commander for the best ways to handle sticky situations while maintaining OPSEC.

MOSTLY DANGEROUS ANSWERS: It’s important for military family members to remember that “Loose Lips STILL Sink Ships! Please review OPSEC guidelines and best practices with your FRG Leader and unit Commander.

conclusions Information discussed over the telephone is always at risk of falling into the wrong hands. Safeguard specific details about deployments only meant to be shared with immediate family members by declining to provide that information over the telephone or via text message.

Never grant post access to someone you don’t know. Safeguard your military ID and never share information about post security measures with anyone.

Be extremely concious about what is posted on the internet. Even if a social networking site appears to be “private,” information shared on the site can potentially be accessed by adversaries.

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Resources & Additional info

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15th MEU Operational Security Guidelines

Army Wife Network OPSEC Tips

Spouse and Family OPSEC Guidelines from Military.com

What is OPSEC? MarineParents.com