Kat Schultz

I am a major supporter of OPSEC. I firmly believe that ALL spouses should be REQUIRED to take an OPSEC course upon agreeing to marry military persons. I mean, why not? This IS the military after all, and the military is not set to the same laws and standards (high or low) as the rest of the country. If it can save lives and ensure the success of our military missions and operations then why not force us to take a class on it? And all you naysayers out there, you’re part of the damn problem. “I am not in the military! The military has no right to tell me what I have to do!” Right, that’s okay. Just remain uneducated. Half the damn spouses don’t even know what OPSEC is, else I wouldn’t see so many dang posts stating down the very minute their husbands will be home from their deployments.

The military men (and women, I need to start including these rare beauties with their civilian spouses) need to be diligent in their efforts to educate their spouses. Mine own husband was extremely pressing in matters including OPSEC. I learned very quickly that OPSEC had not only meaning to ensure his safety and his missions safety, but that he would NOT tolerate a stupid wife with a large flapping mouth. He was never harsh and never cruel, but he did instill the importance of OPSEC on me before we were married. He takes it very seriously and so do I. There are times when I have doubts about what I can and cannot say, or should and should not say. But, I have given myself a motto: When it doubt, leave it out. Catchy, ain’t it?

I don’t expect many civilian’s to actually understand our lifestyle. It’s very different from their own. Even family, it’s hard to make them understand why my husband will not say specific dates and locations over the phone. If you truly believe that it’s safe, you’re a fool! The only time information should ever be passed is in person. Even then it is better that details are left out.

Here are some examples of how I answer typical questions:

If my husband wants to privilege people with this information, that is up to him to do. But, I won’t do it. It is not my place to, and you just NEVER know who is listening. Or who is really on your side, for that matter.

There is an old saying “Loose Lips Sink Ships.” It originated during WWII, in an effort to educate others on the importance of not giving out information about their spouses, children and friends who were deployed to prevent possible spies from obtaining the information to harm the U.S. soldiers and thwart missions.