Opsec outside work

2014-03-13T20:23:50-04:00

There's a guy in one of my college courses who's a contractor on a local military base. He likes to talk about what he does for a living (no shame in taking pride in your work) and I feel like he goes into too much detail. He installs communication equipment in the Humvees and other military trucks. He doesn't get into details about how the equipment works but my opsec senses tingles when I over hear him tell another person about his job. Is he violating opsec or is he just an idiot trying to be the cool kid on the block? If he is violating, what's the best way to confront him?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 15 at 2014 2:25 AM

2014-03-15T02:25:30-04:00

Honestly, it is probably a little bit of both.  People try to impress others with the "cool" things that they get to do, but it could be an OPSEC violation depending on what exactly he is saying.  If you feel that it is, bring it up.<br>

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2014 11:13 PM

2014-04-07T23:13:37-04:00

I have gone through the OPSEC level II course through the DoD twice now and that class will make anyone paranoid. However, as PFC Marquart said it is probably a little bit of both. The devil is in the details for sure. Talking about unclassified stuff is ok to a point. If you add them up it will eventually could be used as a secret brief. In the class they showed how just using the GPS function on the iPhone photos could show where you live, work, shop, etc. So if he keeps giving new exciting stories he could eventually give up a lot of information that can be pieced together to be used by others. As the saying goes "if you have to ask you already know the answer". That is true here. If you feel your senses tingling talk to him alone and express your concerns. He may not be trained in OPSEC or not realize what he is doing could be used against the force.

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Apr 3 at 2015 6:04 PM

2015-04-03T18:04:06-04:00

I would talk to one of the CIC agents at the local MI field office. SAEDA/OPSEC is a big thing with them, they can let you know. Used to be and may still be they would hang out at local watering holes and listen to the troops talk and see if there were SAEDA/OPSEC violations.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 6 at 2015 3:46 PM

2015-08-06T15:46:26-04:00

Almost everything the military does is already online you could probably go on YouTube and pull up how to set the radios in military equipment.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 6 at 2015 3:46 PM

2015-08-06T15:46:40-04:00

I worked with a Cadet and at a bar in Germany, he talked about the concept of operations for our AT. An old German told him essentially STFU cause he could be a spy.