NEW ORLEANS -- A new department of defense-wide memo has been released by the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, Peter C. Cook, on the guidance for the use of visual information captured by Department of Defense personnel on personal equipment. All mission related imagery captured on personal electronic equipment must be reviewed before it can be shared with the public.
With the click of a mouse or a tap on a smartphone, sensitive information is shared that could compromise military operations.
With today’s easy access to social media, at any time, a service member, civilian or family member can post pictures from a deployment or sensitive information about the military’s mission.
“Information or imagery on the size, activity, location, unit, time, and equipment, are all things we need to keep out of the media because that’s important intelligence the adversary can and will use against us,” Sgt. Michael Potter personnel administration specialist aboard Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans.
Without proper review, these seemingly innocent posts could actually contain information that endangers other service members by revealing their locations, security measures, mission operations, or troop movements.
The Assistant to the Secretary of Defense Public Affairs office is currently working on an updated DOD policy to clarify the process of how service members can get their personal visual imagery approved for public release. Until the updated policy is released, DOD personnel should refrain from taking personal photos and videos of military operations and equipment.
For more information see the visual information guidance memo.