BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. –
For all you "Twitter Bugs" who are part of the explosion of the new media and social media network sites such as Twitter, FaceBook, YouTube, text messaging, Flickr , blogs or may even have a personal Web Site, you are not alone. The Air Force Social Media Use Survey stated 68 percent of Airmen use YouTube, 48 percent use MySpace, 15 percent use Blogger, and eight percent use Facebook. These emerging technologies have changed the global media information flow at the click of a button and the way the Air Force communicates.
What does this mean for Airmen today and the manner in which the Air Force shares information? The old rules of controlling information flow have changed dramatically with social networking and the new media platforms, but the security policy governing what type of information is released has not changed.
The way information is transmitted is constantly changing from new media to social media delivery systems. The Air Force in general respects the rights of Airmen to engage in social media as long as they do not discredit themselves, the Air Force or breach operational security (OSPEC) measures.
OPSEC is defined as an analytical process used to deny an adversary critical information about military planning processes and operations. Airmen today must be even more vigilant in their postings because many are working in joint environments and with coalition partners from Afghanistan to Haiti. What you may think is harmless could be linked with other tidbits of information, posted by another Airmen, resulting in critical information being inadvertently released.
Critical information that should be protected includes, but is not limited to, the following: current and future operations, travel itineraries, usernames and passwords, access/identification cards, operations planning information, personal identify information, entry/exit (security) procedures, capabilities and limitations, address and phone lists (recall rosters), budget information, building plans and VIP/distinguished visitors and senior leaders schedules.
According to Lt. Col. Jim Brown, 940th Wing OPSEC Manager, the best offense is defense. It is up to each Airman by what they choose to post if OPSEC countermeasures are applied when engaging in social media.
Countermeasures, according to Interagency OPSEC Support Staff, are anything you can do to effectively reduce the adversary's ability to exploit your vulnerabilities and to disrupt the mission, operation or personal life. The Air Force has identified top ten guidelines for Airmen who use social media platforms on privately owned computers which are as follows:
1. Do not release classified information including information under the protection of the Freedom of Information Act.
2. Stay in your lane of expertise.
3. Always tell the truth, do not lie.
4. Identify clearly what is your opinion and what is factual.
5. Always identify yourself and your military unit.
6. Do not compromise safety for the sake of entertainment.
7. Be aware of the impressions you make both visually and verbally.
8. Use common sense. Do not cross the line between funny and distasteful.
9. Only do what your career can afford to lose.
10. The enemy is engaged and so must you! Once you post online it is critical to remember data does not decay!
The social media protective measures outlined above are the same for active duty as they are the reserve.
Col. Jeffrey Mineo, commander 940th Wing, stated "security measures must be second nature in every area of our lives, both personally and professionally, and especially when it comes to interfacing with the World Wide Web. What we do as individuals on our personal computers can impact the mission and the lives of our comrades. We are a nation at war and by interfacing with social media and or private Web Sites, we are opening ourselves up to vulnerabilities that could negatively national security."
These new media vehicles are changing the way the Air Force communicates from the creation of the Air Force Public Affairs Agency Emerging Technology Division to the Air Force Blue Tube site (www.youtube.com/AFBlue/Tube) launched in 2008. This is the only approved Web Site for Airmen to share their stories, videos and pictures with other Airmen and the public. At the Public Affairs Worldwide Conference held Washington D.C. in March, Col. Michael G. Caldwell, Acting Director of Public Affairs, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, encouraged the audience of professional communicators to embrace these new emerging technologies and not fear them.
If you find yourself all in a Twitter, take heed. Take the time to explore and learn more about the online sites before launching into the new media and social networking Web Sites. Who knows, you too may soon be a "Twitter Bug"!