Social networking in the Air Force Published May 7, 2009 By Senior Airman Jenifer H. Calhoun 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- One-hundred fifty million people use Myspace every day. Add Facebook, Twitter, Friendster and the other social networking Web sites then consider the massive number of people who can look at your page. Is your page an Operational Security risk? "People should avoid posting pictures of themselves in uniform, both home station and in deployed locations," said Tech. Sgt. Timothy Ogan, 52nd Fighter Wing Antiterrorism Office Antiterrorism non-commissioned officer. Pictures aren't the only items on social networking sites "bad guys" can gain information from. Blogs and "about me" sections contain information that can be used against you or the military as well. Even if a profile is set to "private" part of the main page can still be seen. Here viewers can learn your location, access your photo and possibly blog information. Individuals can use this information to try and elicit additional details about the military or your occupation. "Information and photos on pages can be used as evidence for investigations and can lead to possible judicial penalties," said Tech. Sgt. Keith Jackson, 52nd Security Forces investigator. The next time you go to your page ask yourself, am I wearing anything that may identify me as a servicemember? Are any photos incriminating? Finally, do my photos show where I work, my installation or anything identify my location? "Social Web sites can be used for posting photos of weekend travels to keep your friends and families informed of things you are up to but beware of what you post," Sergeant Ogan said. "Always be professional, because you are first and foremost an Airman. Always keep OPSEC and communications security in mind when personalizing your page." For more information about how to make socials networking page OPSEC safe, call the Antiterrorism Office at 452-6699 or 52nd Security Forces at 452-6666.