It may just be me but I've been noticing quite a few posts recently asking some pretty off the wall questions. The majority of these posts seem to be written by anonymous posters in broken english regarding questions about our optempo, policies, or mission cababilities.

There's been some pretty suspicious stuff going on around military bases and airports recently and I just want to throw a reminder out there that we should all remain vigilant about how we respond and what we respond to in this and other forums...

And on MYSpace etc. I've had hotel clerks ask me if we are deploying again soon. You gotta remember the old WWII adage: Loose Lips Sink Ships.

Yes, I know people want to talk, but just think about what your content is and why they are asking. Be smart.

Speaking in generalities helps. It also helps to only quote open sources and personal experiences.

Key West, another radioman and I were asked where we'd be going when we left Key West. Our standard answer was "out to sea."

Then again, are you sure it's what you suspect it is? It could be honest questions from products of our education system.

quote:

Originally posted by prayforsurf:
It may just be me but I've been noticing quite a few posts recently asking some pretty off the wall questions. The majority of these posts seem to be written by anonymous posters in broken english regarding questions about our optempo, policies, or mission cababilities.

There's been some pretty suspicious stuff going on around military bases and airports recently and I just want to throw a reminder out there that we should all remain vigilant about how we respond and what we respond to in this and other forums...

I saw your post in the SAR forum about the question asked in reference to refugees jumping overboard. I think you are on to something. I tried to answer without going into any legal issues of the Coast Guard just in case it's someone from the ACLU or someone trying to figure out the best way to escape when caught with a boat load of aliens.

Looking back on it, I guess I really need to start making it a habit to look at any new poster's profile. I hope you agree my reply didn't give away any secrets.

Thanks for being heads up.

Don

You're not the only person(s) concerned about OPSEC; here's a recent post on the USS John C. Stennis web site as they prepare their return to port:

Uss John C. Stennis Information Notice

As opposed to THIS SITE which practically gives away everything except the HJ times.

Composition of the group, movement dates, last port of call, etc.

Makes you wonder who signed up for the Tiger Cruise... Good catch.

It makes you wonder, is the right hand talking to the left hand?

All he has to do is turn on the TV....

or do a google search..

Wray...

I think you folks over estimate your importance.

quote:

I think you folks over estimate your importance.

I doubt it.

No one knows whose on the other end reading things.

Personally, I would give them the Public Information Officers email or number in Washington DC ... Let them take on all comers with inquiries.

Robin,

I tend to agree with Joe Jester and others; the internet is wide open - just as you can read this thread, so can someone in Tajikastan or Bejing. You really never do know who is reading or posting to the forums. An example, from last week was someone inquiring what to do about interdicted migrants who "jumped" ship and started swimming. Well a seemingly innoculous question or is it? I am nosy and suspicious by nature and experience. I mastered the upside down read on the XO's desk a long time ago. The question was operational in nature - they get asked quite a bit; so who sent it? Uh oh, profile closed; private profile. E-mail address (OK - as a moderator, I have access to e-mail addresses. Hmmm, a foreign address, near the equator, in the Western Hemisphere...curious as I am, I sent the poster an e-mail, explained why I locked the thread and sent him an e-mail with an explanation why I did what I did. So far he hasn't written back.

There has been an increase in questions regarding ops; how to do, what to do; when I see them if I feel they are too sensitive then I lock them. Is it censorship? Sure; will I do it again? Sure.

Your actions and comments re-enforce my point...

Been reading too much Clancy?

I don't believe in the boogie man.

By changing our outlook and approach on the things we do, we are letting the terriorists have a major impact on our lives.

Of course I believe military intelligence is a dichotomy.

Keep on having fun...

quote:

Originally posted by RobinCrusse:
Your actions and comments re-enforce my point...

Been reading too much Clancy?

I don't believe in the boogie man.

By changing our outlook and approach on the things we do, we are letting the terriorists have a major impact on our lives.

Of course I believe military intelligence is a dichotomy.

Keep on having fun...

Yeah, but you have to admit the ending of Clancy's book, "Debt of Honor" (published in 1994), may have given a certain group the idea for the events that occurred seven years later...

quote:

I think you folks over estimate your importance.

I'm gonna have to agree with Robin on this one...

quote:

No one knows whose on the other end reading things.

Personally, I would give them the Public Information Officers email or number in Washington DC ... Let them take on all comers with inquiries.

AND, I agree with Joe as well...

Wray...

Whether revelation of information on here leads to enhancing risk to the nation can be argued back and forth forever.

But....since we cannot know for sure how information revealed may be used, what is the downside to just taking that extra step to keep that information private? Anyone in the active duty Coast Guard can get answers through official channels. The rest of us......well, basically we don't need it.

I see no issue wuith just keeping things a bit more secure then in the past.

I also read an electronics forum where all kinds of things are discussed.

I've seen inquiries from other parts of the world that could be used in illegal activities. Being careful is just that ... being careful. Your personal profiling system should be engaged at all times.

Intelligence is like a picture puzzle with is composed of hundreds of smaller pieces.

Alone by themselves, a single or several pieces may seem insignifacant. But when all the pieces fit together, the bigger picture emerges.

To be sure, most of what is discussed on these boards can be found either on the Web or at your own public library. Next time you're at the library, go to the reference section and take a look at "Jane's Fighting Ships" or, if on the shelves, other products of Jane's Information Group.

On the Web, take a look at www.globalsecurity.org and you'll probably see more than you want to.

I don't think that it's a matter of us taking ourselves too seriously but a lack of real OPSEC training at the command level leading to certain misunderstandings within the Coast Guard community itself.

Here's another eye-opening site, which updates every 300 seconds: Global Incident Map