Posted on May 31, 2014
LTC Operations Officer (Opso)
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Once again the Navy Seals are in the news. There were the team that picked up SGT Bergdahl in Afghanistan. Do we need to know this? Should we know this? As the hours go by we learn even more about who picked him up, where, what type of aircraft will transport the detainees, etc.

After Bin Laden was killed they said Americans, then a flood of information of the Navy Seals, type of helicopters and what was special about them, how he was hunted down up to and including books written and helping Hollywood producing a movie about it.

Why do some people feel the need to release all this information and just let it all out there? Is it helpful? Is it hurtful to our defense and their capability?

Where are the other special operations teams being given credited for their missions? Is it just because the Navy Seals did the Bin Laden raid that they are in the new again or is it that they are the ones selected for these types of high profile missions and not other forces?

What are your thoughts of this and their affect on our elite forces.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/05/31/wh-us-solider-held-in-afghanistan-bergdahl-is-released-after-five-years/
Posted in these groups: 46ac8fde BergdahlSocial media logo Social Media4e691139 Navy SEALs
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Responses: 9
SFC A.M. Drake
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OPSEC is definitely not being followed, by the same groups of people that design the laws. So youre telling me if I wanted to know about my enemy all I have to do is watch TV, listen to the radio/internet? Wow
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LTC Operations Officer (Opso)
LTC (Join to see)
10 y
We actually used to use the media to deceive the enemy....
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SFC A.M. Drake
SFC A.M. Drake
10 y
Yes this is true as well sir.
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1SG David Niles
1SG David Niles
10 y
I used open source information all the time in real world operations for actionable intelligence. 
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1SG Michael Blount
1SG Michael Blount
10 y
Or follow FB posts
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Col Squadron Commander
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Edited 10 y ago
There is no such thing as OPSEC with the media involved. It should be a "need to know" basis, and the media does not need to know those details. I think it puts the spec ops troops in danger when such details are readily given out by the media. Further more IMHO, OPSEC went in the toilet when we started embedding the media into combat operations. When do we begin to comprehend that the enemy is intelligent, has computers, and also watches the same media? On a side note, I am always telling/reminding fellow deployed Airmen to turn off their location services on Facebook because their direct deployed location is right there for everyone to see.
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LTC Operations Officer (Opso)
LTC (Join to see)
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Sir, I agree and think most of it is coming from staff officers, NCOs, enlisted, or coming from other agencies involved. I do not think it is the Seals broadcasting it on their RallyPoint discussions. I really would like the "need to know" to be followed within the military and agencies so that unless you need to know you do not. It disgust me to see this as most of the time it is probably someone looking to gain favor with a reporter or make a name for themselves to move up the ladder and not someone who should be involved (in my opinion) with any of this to begin with. And once again there will be nobody held accountable for leaking this information out.
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Col Squadron Commander
Col (Join to see)
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Accountability? What's that?
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PO1 Translator
PO1 (Join to see)
10 y
I don't think its really coming from the military side, at least not the operational side. These things are just photo-ops for the civilian side of the house and the big whigs. Nothing looks better than saying, "I made that decision to use our highly trained super awesome warriors because I'm the boss and I can do that" (insert crazy old man laughing murmur sound).
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CMC Robert Young
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I concur with much of what has already been said. The sad fact is the "we" talk too much about things we shouldn't. Politicians failed to grasp that our enemies are watching and listening to everything we say and do. We're have been for years giving away that which makes us strong.......and somebody needs to be smart enough to put a stop to it.
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LCpl Steve Wininger
LCpl Steve Wininger
10 y
According to the report, it was DOD officials that were spilling information, although they had to have permission from higher up. Fox news and other news outlets are just as negligent for giving the names. Some of the details given did not change the story except give the Terrorists operational procedures. I am sure they probably already knew, but why confirm it to the whole world.
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SPC Charles Brown
SPC Charles Brown
10 y
Good point Steve. Kinda makes you wonder what the end game is or may be?
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LCpl Steve Wininger
LCpl Steve Wininger
10 y
Isn't the main stream media just the propaganda branch of the government anyway?
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SPC Charles Brown
SPC Charles Brown
10 y
Yeah, kinda like Pravda in the old Soviet Union.
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