OPSEC - a family responsibility

  • Published
  • By Special Agent Patrick Brom
  • Air Force Office of Special Investigations
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  "Hi ... I'm Jane Doe, 23, married to John, 25. He works in SFS as a gate guard. He is deployed right now and will be home May 10 after being gone for nine months!! We have one son, Johnny, who is 20 months. We have been here for a little over a year. We came from Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota ... we were there for three years. I would like to join the playgroup when you guys start it up ... My son would love it!"

Where would someone get this information? Maybe a support group on base, or at a base picnic, right? In those arenas this information would be harmless, and it would be a great way for the speaker to reach out and find others like her.

But what if this same information is posted on the Internet, for millions of viewers - many who do not have the best of intentions for those in a vulnerable position? This is an example of information that is actually out there, and it is a major concern for leaders across the Air Force who have the responsibility to protect the Airmen and their families within their charge.

The above example gives a lot of information that can be used to harm an Airman or his family. Specifically: 

- the active-duty member is deployed and the young wife is home alone with a baby - translation: rob me, assault me, kidnap my child; 

- here are the details of my complete family, oh, and my complete address - translation: I am home alone while my husband works and my kids are in school; 

- here is enough detail to explain to them how you can pick them up, and here is where you can pick them up.

The advent of the Internet, incorporating the vast amounts of information that can be garnered just by surfing the Web, has made it imperative that military personnel and their family members pay special attention to the information placed in public and even private forums there.

For military members, specific training is conducted annually and reminders are posted daily of what is appropriate and not appropriate discussion within the Internet world. Unfortunately, family members are not always kept abreast of the latest threats in the cyber realm. 

For more information, call the local OSI detachment at 882-2152.