Time to Freak Out

It has been an eventful deployment week. Everything Ship oriented I'm going to post in this blog has already had it's official statements and military release posted- so don't worry about anything being against OPSEC.

Communications have been down for several days now. This is something I typically wouldn't post about, however the Ombudsman has put it out for everyone to know. BTW- Communications down sometimes mean missions.. which is why talking about Comm. Blackouts are against OPSEC.

ANYWAY.. I haven't heard from my husband in several days. I didn't get a phone call for my birthday or an email from him. Comms. have been down for several days now.. and Did I or Have I freaked out? Worried? Get upset? .... NO ....

I don't expect emails. I don't expect calls. I'm not going to wait around an entire day- every day for an email! That email will be there when I get the chance to check it. I know my husband is entirely way to busy to email me back and forth for extended periods of time. He's not going to wait for me to reply- he doesn't have the time. He has a job to do. That job does not guarantee him the luxury to be able to email me at any given time or even every day OR every week. This is for ALL military.. not just the Navy and not just my husband's rate. Emailing or calling me is not his priority- never will be during deployment- It CAN'T be because he is Working. Yes, the Military is a way of life, however.. it is his j-o-b.

Worrying does you no good. The only thing it does is raise your blood pressure.

Ok, So.. WHY are Comms. down? Them dirty ole Pirates!
Unfortunately they don't look nearly as good or dressed like Johnny Depp or Orlando Bloom... They are very much real.

Ok, getting back on track:
The ship and her strike group have been following a yacht that was overtaken by 18 Somali Pirates. They had 4 American Missionaries held hostage- the Yacht belonged to he Americans.

The Strike Group tried to negotiate when the Somalis fired a missile then gunfire rang on the yacht. The Somalis had shot the 4 American Hostages and then surrendered. Two of the 18 Somali Pirates were killed when Sailor's boarded the yacht and 3 others were found dead- unsure of the cause of their death. The remaining 13 are being held in the Brig on the USS Enterprise- my husband's Ship.

For a few days I knew this was going on and suspected it was the Big E and her strike group. However, I kept to myself and made no big deal of it. Many posted about it on FB.. people started getting anxious and worrying. Today it was released that it was the E- as many suspected.

I never freaked out, never worried, never had an upsetting thought pop in my head. Again, it's the whole thing of  "This is his j-o-b". IF there is something I need to worry about, it's not my husband.. if I worry constantly, this is going to be a MISERABLE deployment. IF something happens to him.. If he gets hurt, THEN I'll worry... I would be contacted.

This is where I say my favorite Deployment saying:

"NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS"

*Smacks forehead*

Their job is to get things done. Protecting, fighting, Pirates.. etc WHATEVER is thrown at them. They are Sailors, soldiers, Marines and Airmen.. THEY ARE THE MILITARY. That is their job. Our job is being on the homefront- staying sane, being supportive and don't worry and freak them out because you can't keep a clear head.

Deployments are hard on them too.. don't make it any harder on yourself OR Him (or her) by Freaking out and worrying over every mission.. every communication black out.. OR even just ONE day of not hearing from your husband, daughter, boyfriend, sister.. etc! They are WORKING.

The end. 

Official Posting about the Pirates: (Official means: Postings from the Government and Military.. not CNN or Navy times- those are not official)
http://navylive.dodlive.mil/index.php/2011/02/22/u-s-forces-respond-to-gunfire-aboard-sv-quest/
http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=62894

This gets Personal

What is PERSEC? It is the little thing (not so little) related to OPSEC that noone really pays any attention to. Honestly, it's not something JUST military families need to focus on. [Per]sonal [Sec]urity is something that everyone should watch out for. You never quite know who's checking up on you.. or looking for a time when you're vulnerable to any sort of adversity.

PERSEC is merely protecting your arse, protecting your "Personal" information.

With Today's technology.. Nearly everyone in the world breaks PERSEC in some way. Facebook, I notice is the EASIEST way to target someone. You know your profile is never TRULY private right? ;)

There are not set rules for PERSEC.. It's common sense if you think about it. But who really wants to think about things that deep into detail? Honestly, I break PERSEC.. Every person I know, personally and in the virtual world has broke PERSEC. I have fun with talking about PERSEC.. I always tend to scare some people with what they didn't realize they were sharing with the world. Because of my knowledge of PERSEC, I was told by a lady who works with Missing children services that she could easily get me a job with them because of my knowledge of PERSEC and my ability to point out things.

Enough with that.. now it's time to get you thinking.. Hopefully anyway. ;)

I'm going to use Facebook as my example for PERSEC.

• What is one thing that most everyone breaks on Facebook? Using your name. Not only do a lot of people Post their first and last names.. I see a lot of Middle names and Maiden names. 
• You have a profile picture. Now I know what you look like... and I still know your full name ;)
• I know who you're friends with.
• You post your hometown, and your current city.. I know where you're from and a general Idea of where you're at.
• You update your status to tell me where you are going.. where you've been, what you're doing, what you're going to do. I know when you're home. Now all I need is to figure out where you live to rob your house, or go to the place you're going to find you and follow you home. 
• You post your phone number.
• You talk about your job in your status, you tell information about your job in your info/job section. I now know who you work for, and it's not hard to figure out where when you've already given me so many other details.

*Keep in mind, Facebook is not as private as you think it is. And when you accepted the terms of service, you gave Facebook permission to sell and use in anyway any bit of information on your page.. this includes your pictures.  (I'll get to pictures here in a minute)

• I can see the pages you like. I'm going to use a Navy wife as an example. Your husband is on a ship, you "Like" the ship's official facebook page. I now know that your husband is in the Navy.. oh yes, a military family. Perfect. You'd be surprised how many people in the US.. American born citizens that wouldn't mind collecting information on you and selling it to the "Enemy". Anyway, back on track- From you liking the ships page, I can find out where the ships home port is. Again, I have your general location. I know if your husband is home, underway or deployed. I know if you're alone (without your husband). From your FB, I know your name, what you look like, general location, your likes, your status updates, what ship you're affiliated with, what branch of military.. etc. You get the idea.

You want to know another extremely easy way to figure out something about a person, (other than by status updates posted by someone who posts everything they do and when they are doing it)? Your pictures. "How can you figure out things from pictures?" you may ask... Just listen  read on, I'll tell you ;)

For someone who is non military, or for military some of these apply to both.

• How many people do you know post mobile uploads? You're at a concert.. you post pictures while you're at the show. I now know where you're at and that you're not home.
• You get a new car, you post a picture of it. I know what you're driving now. Not to mention you just posted a status about your new car.
• You get a new house, or a new place to rent. You take a picture of it. Most people fail to remember that their street address number is on their house... Now, I know you live in XYZ city and your address number is 123. We're narrowing it down now ;) Plus I know exactly what you look like, what your car is and looks like, what your house looks like.. hmm.. Common mistake with renters- posting pictures of the surrounding areas and amenities. Posting pics of the inside of your place. No big deal right? Not until someone comments and is interested in renting near you and you tell them the complex name.
• You're new car was in the picture of your house.. Did you realize that your license plate is showing? Or in the picture you took of your new car.. Ding ding ding! I now can get your complete address if you're vehicle is registered in the state you're in. Either way.. I have an address that I can use to get to you.. whether by you directly or to your family back home ;)

I can keep going with that.. but you get the idea I hope. It's fairly easy smeazy. 

This is for military families- Photos and military PERSEC. This scared a friend of mine.

• You or your SO posts pics from port.. while you're at port. I know your direct location. There's only so many ports, All you have to do is figure out the country.
• You or your SO post a picture in Uniform. I'm going to use the the Navy dress uniform as an example. On your dress uniform, some wear a name tag, I now have your last name and I know what you look like. There's more. From that dress uniform, I know your command. I will then be able to find out if the family is alone and the sailor is deployed. I will know a general area for the family. From the uniform, I also know your rate and your rank. I know you're accomplishments from your ribbons and medals.
• You post a picture of the person in Uniform armed up, gun in hand. I can use this to make the US and the Military look bad... not to mention the things I can do with photoshop using your picture. 

I can go on and on. All of this applies to all social networking and forums... anything that's put out there in cyber space.

Here is a simple, commonly done PERSEC violation: (pulled from MIL Spouse online)
Unsafe way to post:
Posted by:  CrystalLovesGreg:  “Hey girls, sorry I won’t be in the forums today.  My son, Mike (he’s six) is home with the flu.   We just got back from Portsmouth Naval Hospital where we waited for six hours at the ER.  My two girls were crazy!  Anyway, I hope he gets better in time for DH’s return next week.  We go back for a follow up Tuesday morning.  I’ll be back on tomorrow.

What a lurker has probably learned:  You’re a Navy wife, named Crystal, with three children: two girls, one boy, age six, named Michael.  You live in Hampton Roads and your husband, named Greg, is on a ship returning in less than seven days.  And, if I wanted to find you, I could simply hang out Tuesday at the Portsmouth Naval Hospital and wait for a woman with three children who fit this description.  Voila! 

Safe way to post:  “Hey girls, sorry I won’t be posting today.  I’m taking care of my children.  Talk to you tomorrow.”



How much information are you giving out?

The Enemy is listening..

Today I'm revisiting a topic I am very passionate about, one that I feel noone takes as serious as they should. I posted about this shortly after starting my blog, but I'm deleting that post and going into more detail. I have studied OPSEC since the day I became a Navy wife. I have read so many Official postings on OPSEC and have been to a briefing on it as well. So, With all things considered.. I would consider myself to be well educated when it comes to OPSEC. I will do a PERSEC post another day.. betcha I scare a few of you with it too. I have scared a few friends when I talk about it. ;)

First off, What is OPSEC?

OPSEC means Operational Security. OPSEC is the process of denying potential adversaries any information about capabilities and/or intentions by identifying, controlling, and protecting generally unclassified evidence of the planning and execution of sensitive activities.

Something Everyone should understand-
Although some information may not be secret, it can be what we call “critical information.” Critical information deals with specific facts about military intentions, capabilities, operations or activities. If the Enemy knew detailed information, the service member's mission accomplishment and personnel safety could be jeopardized. By being a member of the military family, YOU will often know some bits of critical information. Do Not discuss them in public and with persons who are not immediate family or affiliated with the military- Only people you trust and who practice OPSEC.

• Where and how you discuss this information is just as important as with whom you discuss it. Adverse agents tasked with collecting information frequently visit some of the same stores, clubs, recreational areas, or places of worship as you do.

• Determined individuals can easily collect data from cordless and cell phones, and even baby monitors, using inexpensive receivers available from local electronics stores.

Some information you may think is insignificant, However.. Paired with someone else's "Insignificant" information, it can be puzzled together and the full picture put together. Puzzle pieces ARE a violation of OPSEC.

What not to talk or post about:

• Do not post deployment dates or redeployment dates.
• Do not post Training dates such as Ship Underways
• Do not post homecoming dates- this includes training/ underway homecomings
• Do not Post R&R dates- Arrival or Departure.
• Do not discuss Locations, Keep it on a "Country" basis Such as Afghanistan. Navy Ladies, Don't discuss what country the ships are porting in at all.
• Do not discuss convoy routes (“we traveled through XYZ on our way to ZXY”) 
• Do not discuss detailed information on the mission, capabilities or morale of a unit  or command.
• Do not discuss details concerning security procedures, response times, tactics
• Do not discuss equipment or lack there of.
• Do not talk about or speculate about future operations or movements. This would include a ship changing ports Stateside. (i.e. a specific carrier moving from Norfolk to Mayport)
• Do not post countdowns or time frames, same for count-ups. Counting down is giving the exact date. Counting up from the day he left is a puzzle piece. While you may not be giving exact information, Put with someone eles's percentage or estimate.. you give it away.
• Do not post pictures of your SO with obvious landmarks that can give away his or her location. 
• Do not pass on Rumors.. (i.e. "I heard the dates changed")
• Do not post percentages- Some feel this is ok, but it is also a puzzle piece. If you pair it with someone else's puzzle piece/ Violation- it can be figured out. You post that you are 50% done.. and someone posts he's been gone 90 days.. You then have a date/ timeframe.

I think you get the idea. 

If you refuse to follow these guidelines, you are putting YOUR service member at great risk. Not only are you putting yours in greater danger- You are putting every service member in their unit/ command/ ship.. etc at risk.

By not following these rules you are potentially getting your service member in trouble. I know a few ladies who got there husband put on restriction and stripped of their crow (they lost rank) because they couldn't wouldn't adhere to OPSEC. I have also met a girl on Myspace who refused to listen to numerous people when they told her not to post dates of her boyfriend's deployment. By not listening, she caused his group's deployment to be extended by a few months.

Remember, no matter your affiliation, status, rank or age- you have a part in the security of your loved one!

Expressing Yourself -vs- OPSEC

Today, I was directed to a blog post that urked one of my friends to see how I felt about it. Well, the more I sit here and think about it.. the more I let it bother me. Hence the blog.

First off, let me just say that OPSEC is something I follow all the time, as ANYONE associated to a service member should.

After reading the blog post Ah, OPSEC posted on Semper Spouse by "Alpha Wife", I was absolutely disgusted. I posted the link her blog post on Facebook as well. Seems so many agree with me, as they should.. on this subject anyway.

If you didn't click the Links above to read her post, let me just break it down some:

"if I find myself needing to share some of them in order to get something off my chest, I will." [referring to sharing deployment details]

She finds it alright to put her husband and his unit at risk for her to "Get something off her chest". If my husband was in her husband's command.. I would be livid. Hell, this upsets me and he's not connected to my husband!

"So there's a big middle finger to OPSEC, I suppose. They can't silence me and expect me to let everything build up inside me just because they are a bunch of paranoids have set guidelines that they think every spouse should adhere to." 

 Paranoids? Try concerned for the safety of our men and women who are fighting over there this very moment, and any person wearing a uniform serving in the United States Military. They have set these guidelines for a reason. And by YOU being in a relationship with a service member it is YOUR responsibility to adhere to them.


"I have a blog so that I can spill things the way I see it. And if one sneaky terrorists came to MY blog and decided to do any no-good deed to whoever because of details that I shared, then whatever, I'll take responsibility."

By this.. She is saying that she will take responsibility.. Is she saying that she will gladly take responsibility of a wounded service member, or even worse a fallen service member?! Is she the one who will tell a child that her father was killed because she couldn't keep her mouth shut and didn't care that she put so many at risk just so she could express herself? Yes, I'm on a rant. I'm livid.

Is it just me, or is the linked post a very selfish and disgusting post? We would all love to go on and on about when our loved one is coming home, or rant about how we don't want them to leave on "such and such" date. BUT is it really worth it to put your husband in harms way? NO IT'S NOT and if you think it is.. YOU ARE ONE SICK AND TWISTED PERSON!

You can express yourself without posting any information putting the Military at risk. I know this.. I have been doing it for a while now with My brother being in the service and now my husband. Not just me, but the family members of service members I'm friends with in person and Facebook as well.. It doesn't just stop there.. look at all the military significant others who post blogs.. They express themselves and THEY KEEP THEIR LOVED ONES SAFE BY NOT POSTING SENSITIVE INFORMATION!

Seriously, Some people do not need to be allowed to be associated with ANYTHING dealing with the Military. I pray to God that her husband doesn't know she poss the foolish mess that she has been.