Operational & Personal Security
Updated: Jan 13
Social media and the internet has become a blessing and curse. For military families, it is a great way to stay connected with your loved ones no matter where they are in the world, BUT it also imposes many security risks.
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Operational Security (OPSERC) and Personal Security (PERSEC) can be confusing to new military families. And depending on WHO you ask you may receive different answers. The key to OPSEC/PERSEC can be simple if you ask yourself the following questions. If you answer NO then you are good to go!
SOCIAL MEDIA POSTING - Am I posting a specific location or address of my service member (not including recruit training). Do I practice covering name tags when posting images of my service member? Am I posting financial data, account numbers, or social security numbers?
PHOTOS - Am I posting an image with any signs or geographic markers that would expose my service members' location? Am I posting an image with a weapon (except for a ceremony)?
DATES/LOCATIONS/CONVOYS - Am I posting future deployment dates or locations of my service member (not including recruit training)? Has the information I am posting been publicly announced by the military or DoD?
Sending letters and postcards to recruits Writing letters and postcards to your recruit is not a violation of OPSEC or PERSEC. Sending letters through USPS with your recruit's address and your return address on letters is normal and doesn't violate OPSEC/PERSEC. Mail sent to recruit training facilities or A-Schools, both electronically or handwritten, is not a violation. The USPS, Federal Express, and UPS follow the standards of security and privacy.
Monday Delivery Postcards - MondayDelivery.com follow OPSEC/PERSEC. Although military commands and DoD doesn't officially endorse any 3rd party mail service postcards are accepted and delivered by recruit mail rooms. Start sending postcards to recruits, active-duty service members, and family & friends.
Operation Security (OPSEC) measures are not something to take lightly these day and when not practiced mindfully you could put your service member in harms way, but also your family as whole. Today’s enemy is full of skillful cyber hackers and terrorist that are just watching and waiting for important information to be shared. Just as important as OPSEC is Personal Security (PERSEC).