Army Basics: Keeping You and Your Soldier Safe

I know I know.... everyone and the mother has told you all about Army life and what to expect. But the truth is, unless you've lived the life, then you really have no idea. Soldiers deploy. No matter what a recruiter tell you, your soldier has the potential to deploy no matter his/ her MOS. Unless you get it in writing then its not in your contract, the recruiter wants you to sign the dotted line and will stretch the truth to fit the situation, just some friendly advice for you to take or leave.

Basic information:

Know what OPSEC is. OPSEC is Operation Security. This means posting your soldiers deployment dates, return dates or mission information this also includes deployment tickers. Keeping our soldiers safe is our utmost priority. The media might post sensitive information, but by posting it on a social networking site you are only confirming the information. I suggest using seasons. It is important to realize that putting together the bits and pieces needed to create the larger picture can be amazingly simple on the internet. Many mistakenly believe that if they don’t talk about it all at once, the information is safe. This is wrong and dangerous to assume.

Finally, for your own personal safety, be very aware of what you are putting on the internet or saying in conversations in public. With the internet, it is not difficult to track down an address and phone number. Do not make yourself a target by letting the world know that your loved one is deployed.Be vague on the internet about your personal information as an Army wife or Army family member. This is plain common sense in just every day life whether you have a family member in the military or not. The old saying "loose lips sink ships" still holds true today. Keep your soldier, your family and his or her unit safe by keeping the information you know to yourself. You never know who is lurking and gathering information on message boards, myspace pages, and profiles. Better safe than sorry!