IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT TERRORIST ATTACKS IN NEW YORK CITY AND WASHINGTON DC, WE MUST BE EXTREMELY MINDFUL OF THE CONTENT AND POSSIBLE INTELLIGENCE VALUE OF INFORMATION WE RECEIVE AND PROVIDE. AMERICANS HAVE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO NEARLY INSTANTANEOUS ACCESS TO ALL INFORMATION CONCERNING OUR NATION'S MILITARY AND ITS OPERATIONS. BALANCING THE NEED TO STAY INFORMED WHILE PROTECTING INTELLIGENCE AND OPERATIONAL INFORMATION IS A DIFFICULT BUT ESSENTIAL TASK. WE MUST BE AWARE THAT OUR ADVERSARIES HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO ACTIVELY MONITOR OUR COMMUNICATIONS, THE NEWS MEDIA, THE INTERNET AND COMMAND INFORMATION CHANNELS.
3. CONSIDER CAREFULLY THE POTENTIAL VALUE OF INFORMATION WE PLACE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN. THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES ARE PROVIDED TO ASSIST ALL PERSONNEL.
A. GENERAL. SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES MUST BE AWARE OF THEIR PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY IN SECURING OPERATIONAL INFORMATION. OPSEC IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR FORCE PROTECTION AND OUR ABILITY TO EFFECTIVELY CARRY OUT MILITARY OPERATIONS. CASUAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SENSITIVE INFORMATION OR SPECULATION ABOUT OPERATIONAL MATTERS IN PUBLIC VENUES CAN BE EXPLOITED. INDIVIDUALS MUST BE COGNIZANT OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS AT ALL TIMES WHEN DISCUSSING OPERATIONAL MATTERS.
B. SECURITY POSTURE.
1. DEFENSE CONDITIONS ARE CLASSIFIED SECRET, WHILE FORCE PROTECTION CONDITIONS ARE UNCLASSIFIED.
2. VULNERABILITY OF OCONUS INSTALLATIONS TO SABOTAGE OR PENETRATION IS CLASSIFIED SECRET IF U.S. INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION IS REVEALED.
C. DEPLOYMENTS
1. THE IDENTITY OF UNITS PLANNED FOR DEPLOYMENT IS CONFIDENTIAL UNTIL AN OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DEPLOYMENT IS MADE.
2. GENERAL GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION OF UNITS DEPLOYED (E.G. CITY, COUNTRY OR AREA) IS UNCLASSIFIED.
3. SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION OF UNITS DEPLOYED IS CONFIDENTIAL.
4. DETAILS OF ALLIED MILITARY PARTICIPATION IN OPERATIONS IS SECRET.
4. THE GLOBAL REACH OF THE WORLDWIDE WEB REQUIRES SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS BE TAKEN WHEN POSTING INFORMATION. THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF INFORMATION SHALL NOT BE POSTED TO PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE WEB SITES:
A. INFORMATION THAT IS FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY (FOUO). THIS TYPE OF INFORMATION WOULD POSE AN UNACCEPTABLE RISK TO THE MARINE CORPS, ESPECIALLY IN ELECTRONICALLY AGGREGATED FORM. WHILE RECORDS CONTAINING FOUO INFORMATION WILL NORMALLY BE MARKED AT THE TIME OF THEIR CREATION, RECORDS THAT DO NOT BEAR SUCH MARKINGS SHALL BE ASSUMED TO CONTAIN FOUO INFORMATION.
B. ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING LESSONS LEARNED WHICH WOULD REVEAL SENSITIVE MILITARY OPERATIONS, EXERCISES OR VULNERABILITIES.
C. REFERENCE TO UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION THAT WOULD REVEAL SENSITIVE MOVEMENTS OF MILITARY ASSETS OR THE LOCATION OF UNITS, INSTALLATIONS, OR PERSONNEL WHERE UNCERTAINTY REGARDING LOCATION IS AN ELEMENT OF A MILITARY PLAN OR PROGRAM.
D. PERSONAL INFORMATION INCLUDING COMPILATIONS OF NAMES OF PERSONNEL ASSIGNED TO OVERSEAS, SENSITIVE, OR ROUTINELY DEPLOYABLE UNITS.
E. NAMES, LOCATIONS, AND SPECIFIC IDENTIFYING INFORMATION ABOUT FAMILY MEMBERS OF MARINES AND MARINE CORPS EMPLOYEES.
F. TECHNICAL INFORMATION THAT CAN BE USED OR BE ADAPTED FOR USE TO DESIGN, ENGINEER, PRODUCE, MANUFACTURE, OPERATE, REPAIR, OVERHAUL, OR REPRODUCE ANY MILITARY OR SPACE EQUIPMENT OR TECHNOLOGY CONCERNING SUCH EQUIPMENT.
G. UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION PERTAINING TO CLASSIFIED PROGRAMS. THE CLEARANCE REVIEW PROCEDURES FOR UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION PERTAINING TO CLASSIFIED PROGRAMS PROPOSED FOR POSTING TO A PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE WEB SITES MUST TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE LIKELIHOOD OF CLASSIFICATION BY COMPILATION.