I didn't know that!

  • Published
  • By Brig. Gen. Chip Utterback
  • Former 366th Air Expeditionary Wing commander
I saw an e-mail that one of our warriors sent to his family and friends recently. I didn't spy on the guy; I simply read the private e-mail to his family in a nationally syndicated newspaper column.

From that e-mail and some Web sites several of our folks have established to keep family members updated -- to find them, just search for the base's name -- I learned a lot that the bad guys can learn, too.

In 20 minutes I learned how many people are here, exactly where our base is located, what time we eat and how many people are in what tent at a given time. I learned what kind of airplanes we have, much about our mission, and a lot about our security -- I can go on and on.

We have rules on communications for a reason. Your innocent letter, e-mail or Web site can end up on the front page. You might make us an easy target and our families won't appreciate it. Our friends and family don't understand operational security and communications security the way we do -- or should.

We are at war, we have been attacked -- people want to hurt us. Let's not give the bad guys a how-to manual. (Courtesy Air Combat Command News Service)