It Might Not Be A Good Idea To Post While Overseas

Keeping in touch with loved ones overseas is a lot easier with the help of social networking sites like Facebook. But that increased communication brings concerns about what troops are posting… and who can see it.

“If you use commmon sense, it could be a good way to keep in touch with friends,” says Al, an Air Force Master Sergeant who says Facebook didn’t exist during his last deployment, but he plans to use it on his next overseas tour. “It just depends on how much they are going to monitor it.”

Al is in favor of monitoring troops’ Facebook accounts. So is Howie, a Staff Sergeant in the Army. “Inevitably with what you’re seeing and doing everyday, you are going to say or show something you shouldn’t.”

“We must understand that computers are now a valuable weapon system,” says Staff Seargeant Darrell Ramey, an Operationatel Security Monitor in the Air Force. “They can be easily targeted by enemies that use the internet to gather and disseminate intelligence.”

Ramey suggest that deployed troops should not post information about military movements, specific unit information or locations, or any details about your job while overseas. He also thinks it’s a good idea to clear any photos taken on deployment with public affairs personnel before posting them.

“There are always some graphic pictures that shouldn’t have been taken,” says Howie. “But somehow they always do get taken.”

Alyson, whose husband is deployed with the Army National Guard, says the pictures on his Facebook page make her feel better, not worse. “He posts pictures of palm trees and sunsents – I tell him it looks like vacation!”

Social networking has had unexpected benefits for Alyson, who was married just one month before her husband deployed. “It’s helped me become friends with all his friends, and their wives. If someone went to the spoouse support meeting and I didn’t, they can shoot me a quick message and let me know what I missed.”

Read Mark’s view on Facebook.

Read why Canada in thinking of banning Facebook for soldiers.