Is it a violation of OPSEC if my friend posts this as his facebook status?

[Taking a Chance]

We are both 11B and he is AD and I am Nat Guard. He's in A-stan and keeps posting stuff like "RIP SSGT John Doe" or "You were a friend, a hero, and a brother PVT Jane Doe. You won't be forgotten."

I'm not trying to be a little biotch and call him out on it but I think that could be a major violation of OPSEC. Is it? How about if the death has already been made public?

[J D]

Don't worry about it. OPSEC is mostly something little kiddies on here worry about. If he isn't supposed to tell something, he will be told.

[Mike]

Unless those deaths are secret/classified and above in security level, it's not really violation of OPSEC as long as it's not critical to national security.

Oh and if you ever read ArmyTimes, NavyTimes, MarineTimes etc, they post KIA/MIA status of servicemen that are in combat zones anyway.

[Amanda]

As long as he is NOT posting it before the fallens family has been notified he is ok. If he is on one of the FOBs that do not have "blackouts" he should not be posting it until they have time to properly notify the families. If he is doing it before this he is violating OPSEC and is also a dumb ass with no respect.

[dankohner1]

You should know the rules regarding OPSEC. How exactly is that against OPSEC? I think someone was not paying attention during OPSEC training.

[Amanda]

If hes deployed right now and posting this stuff, the whole FOB hes on has already been in condition "river city" meaning they shut down all communication on the FOB such as the telephones and internet until the family of the fallen or injured are properly notified. Remembering someones death is not a violation of OPSEC unless, like said before, is a classified death. Pretty much OPSEC says you cant talk about specific locations, times, dates, specifics on missions and other like subjects.

[Dapper Drake]

No, unless the next-of-kin haven't yet been notified of the loss, OR if his unit happens to have some sort of unit-specific policy against Facebook or status updates like that. I would suggest either asking your chain-of-command or your unit's S2 for the specific unit-level policy on social networking. It's better to be safe than sorry where OPSEC is concerned, in the end.

[Manifest Destiny]

Not OPSEC, but he needs to wait for the family to be informed before he goe about spouting about. Since the internet is shut off in A-stan during that period to give the family a chance to be notified, then it is probably alright, the thing is does the family really want this up on his FB???