CFCWO on facebook?

[Takeniteasy]

I think at the end of the day you make a decision as to what kind of information you are willing to share and what will others do with the information they know about you. You can google Armed Forces Council and find complete career profiles of each and every senior leader listed with a picture, there for anyone to see. You can find out alot with just a first name if you try different search criteria and action verbs.. I know I am not the first to be creative in using the internet to get information I want, I dont speak french but I use certain french words to find things easily.

Andrew

 

[dangerboy]

Here is a CANFORGEN about the subject:

CANFORGEN 136/06 CDS 050/06 011318Z SEP 06
GUIDANCE ON BLOGS AND OTHER INTERNET COMMUNICATIONS - CF OPERATIONS AND ACTIVITIES
UNCLASSIFIED

REFS: A.QR AND O 19.36, 19.37, AND 19.375
B.DAOD 2008-1, 2008-4, AND 2008-6
C.NDSP CHAPTER 30

RECENTLY THERE HAS BEEN CONSIDERABLE INFORMATION POSTED TO THE INTERNET DESCRIBING THE EXPERIENCES OF CF MEMBERS, PARTICULARLY THOSE DEPLOYED ON OPERATIONS. THESE POSTINGS HAVE INCLUDED COMMENTARIES ON PERSONAL WEBSITES, WEB-LOGS (BLOGS) AND E-MAILS, AND UPLOADED STILL AND VIDEO IMAGERY. THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN POSTED BY CF MEMBERS DEPLOYED ON OPERATIONS OR IN GARRISON, FAMILIES AND ACQUAINTANCES OF CF MEMBERS, EMBEDDED JOURNALISTS AND OTHER MEDIA, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC

THIS CANFORGEN IS INTENDED TO ENSURE CF MEMBERS, THE CHAIN OF COMMAND, AND SPECIALIST ADVISORS AT ALL LEVELS ARE AWARE OF THE RISKS INHERENT IN MAKING SOME TYPES OF INFORMATION OR IMAGERY AVAILABLE TO THE WIDE AUDIENCE USING THE INTERNET, AND OF THE MEASURES TO BE TAKEN TO PREVENT SUCH RISKS

OPERATIONAL SECURITY IS PARAMOUNT. IT IS INCUMBENT UPON ALL CF MEMBERS TO CONSIDER THE POTENTIAL FOR CREATING RISK TO THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR PEERS, AND THE MISSION BY PUBLISHING INFORMATION TO THE INTERNET. SUCH INFORMATION OR IMAGERY MAY, EITHER INDIVIDUALLY OR IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER INFORMATION, PROVIDE EXPERT ANALYSTS INSIGHTS INTO CF CURRENT OPERATIONS, EQUIPMENT, CAPABILITIES, TACTICS, AND INTENTIONS, OR MAY PROVIDE INFORMATION THAT PUTS PERSONNEL IN SPECIALIST ROLES OR THEIR FAMILIES AT RISK

CF MEMBERS ARE TO CONSULT WITH THEIR CHAIN OF COMMAND BEFORE PUBLISHING CF-RELATED INFORMATION AND IMAGERY TO THE INTERNET, REGARDLESS OF HOW INNOCUOUS THE INFORMATION MAY SEEM. THE CHAIN OF COMMAND HAS ACCESS TO EXPERT ADVISORS, SUCH AS PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND INTELLIGENCE STAFFS, WHO WILL ENSURE THAT SUCH PUBLISHED INFORMATION IS NOT ULTIMATELY PREJUDICIAL TO CF OPERATIONS AND PERSONNEL

CF MEMBERS ALSO HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT ANY INFORMATION OR IMAGERY THEY SHARE WITH A THIRD PARTY WHO MAY NOT SHARE CF OPERATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS IS NOT OF SUCH A NATURE THAT IT COULD CREATE RISKS IF PUBLISHED

COLLECTION OF INFORMATION OR IMAGERY BY EMBEDDED JOURNALISTS OR OTHER MEDIA IS SUBJECT TO AGREEMENTS BETWEEN SUCH MEDIA AND THE RESPONSIBLE PUBLIC AFFAIRS STAFF, WHO WILL ENSURE THE APPROPRIATE MANAGEMENT AND RELEASE OF INFORMATION

IT IS NOT THE INTENT OF THE CF TO RESTRICT THE INTERNET ACCESS PROVIDED TO CF MEMBERS AS DESCRIBED IN THE REFERENCES. WITHIN GENERALLY WELL-UNDERSTOOD LIMITS, CF MEMBERS ARE ENTITLED TO COMMUNICATE WITH FRIENDS, FAMILY AND COLLEAGUES, AS ARE ALL CANADIAN CITIZENS

THE CF CHAIN OF COMMAND, PARTICULARLY IN A THEATRE OF OPERATIONS, HAS THE AUTHORITY TO RESTRICT ACCESS TO THE INTERNET IF IT IS DEEMED ESSENTIAL TO MAINTAINING OPERATIONAL SECURITY

LEGAL ADVICE ON THIS CANFORGEN IS AVAILABLE TO THE CHAIN OF COMMAND FROM THE NATIONAL SECURITY DIRECTORATE OF THE CF LEGAL ADVISOR (CFLA)

 

[MedCorps]

My CSM has some fun with this.  About once a week he finds some member of the unit / health service / CF who is a goof ball on facebook (or sometimes other places) and posts a copy of the page in the photocopy room with a witty comment for all to see.

Since he has started doing this about a year ago he has come up with some pretty wild stuff an made some pretty funny comments. Since he has started this the number of unit members who have appeared on the wall of shame have dropped to almost none (less one recently from Lavalife). 

It also gives me incentive once an awhile to stick my head into the photocopier room on the way to the washroom to see what witty, oft slightly off colour comments he has made in his recent wall posts.

MC

 

[Shamrock]

Your CSM is clearly in violation of the no fun in the workplace act.

 

[Sf2]

Once again my point is being missed entirely.

My message was this;

• We have been told that having ourselves easily identifiable as service members on facebook is dangerous for ourselves and our families.
  
• This page easily identifies hundreds of facebookers as members of the CF, thus making them easy "targets".

Whoever gave this briefing is wrong.  You're saying that you are not allowed to identify yourself as military on Facebook?  What about newpapers, magazines that have online content?  Those are just as easily accessed as FACEBOOK.  Now no one is allowed to appear in any media whatsoever stating that they are a service member?  If that's the case, there are ALOT of people in trouble.

Heck, maybe I shouldn't have run with that Olympic Torch last year...them Taliban are onto me!!!

 

[Alea]

Whoever gave this briefing is wrong. 

Hi SF2,

Maybe it's not so wrong after all if we consider what is written 2 posts above yours.

I am not in the military but I find it makes sense that everyone should be careful with what they post or make public in any kind of forum, meeting sites, Facebooks and other when they wear the uniform.
I saw a military man on Facebook who posted a picture of himself in uniform and is "seaking discreet encounters"... when I saw that, I couldn't help but thinking to myself that it does not show a good image of the CF.
I also know someone who, while being in Afghanistan, posted all kinds of pictures of himself, his colleagues, army material including names of the places where said photos were taken (wouldn't this give some kind of hints of the positions of certain troops??) etc... etc... When I asked him if he could get in trouble for posting such "infos" accessible to everyone, he replied that it was not a problem at all and that he'd never been told anything about it. I then thought to myself that: "either I know nothing about nothing" but as a civilian... I logically thought that it just seemed wrong!

I used to work for an international bank as an Executive Administrative and had to take part in very confidentials meetings to assist some of the Vice-presidents who I worked for... from the beginning of the mandate, it was clearly said to me that I should avoid being part of sites like Facebook... I then erased my page. That was the end of Facebook for me and I have absolutely no regret since.

A poster stated earlier that "at the end of the day you make a decision as to what kind of information you are willing to share and what will others do with the information they know about you". I tend to agree with this and I would also add that when occupying such a role in a society (being part of the military), should come with it a strong sense of responsibility about the image that is being projected of the CF through its members.

That is just my personnal thought

Alea

 

[Sf2]

Alea,

I agree, kinda. 

I am of the opinion that sure, put yourself out there as a service member.  Its not a secret to anyone.  The problem is when people start posting pictures of "here I am in this place, with this company, doing this kind of stuff...."  That's where the line is.

Sure, some people need to take more serious measures based on their job, and that's fine, but most of the time, those guys get it.  But average joe blow doesn't need to keep their military status hush hush.  How are you supposed to hide your military status if you live in the PMQ's?  Hell, go to the Warehouse on a friday night and watch all the dog tags flop around on the dance floor.  As pathetic and humorous as that may be, there's no harm done.  Its when people start posting names, places, and ops...that's the problem.

Like they say, OPSEC is an art.....

 

[aesop081]

Its when people start posting names, places, and ops...that's the problem.

Even then, it still depends. Hard to tell a guy that he breached OPSEC saying he was at location X doing job Y when it is in a news release on the Canada Command website ( for example).

 

[aesop081]

Back to the CFCWO......

Facebook and other social media is what kids these days understand. I see it every day with my own children. If we are, as CF leaders, to connect with younger members now just getting in, we have to have a presence in social media.

 

[Towards_the_gap]

I've always told my guys that if it's in the public doman already, then not to worry. Specifics including obj names, dates, grids, or specifics about recent events are a no-no. Other than that post away.

People get all wrapped around the axle about persec, often times for nothing. Fact is unless you are SF, CIED, HUMINT or of a high enough rank, you generally aren't worth the trouble. I remember once hearing during a PERSEC brief that someone was shocked that another soldier had put photos of himself frapping charges on facebook. Now I'm no counter-intelligence guru but I'm pretty sure AQ knows we use det cord to initiate charges....


As for the CFCWO being on facebook......hmm to me that site just looks a bit sad.

 

[PuckChaser]

It also sets an example for CF members to follow on Facebook. CANFORGENs with strong language are nice and all, but if the CFCWO has his own page, and gives us an exemplar..... what's that leadership principle, something by example?  :nod:

 

[Sf2]

That's what I tried to say in my original post.

I'm sure its just a measure to "reach out" to the digital age.  Nothing wrong with the CFCWO's page. 

 

[Towards_the_gap]

I don't know. I agree with the 'set the standard' argument, and 'touching the digital generation'...


....but I would have 400% more respect for the CFCWO if, instead of the stock photo that you see in building foyers across this great land, he had a picture of him piss drunk, pair of underwear on his head, in a Hawaiian shirt in a karaoke bar in Tehran.

If you're gonna be that high up and have a facebook page, at least have a bit of character with it. Don't put pics of you doing hardwood flooring up.

 

[OldSolduer]

I'd have a pic of me up hangin with the troops.....with a Bud or JD.

 

[dogger1936]

I don't know. I agree with the 'set the standard' argument, and 'touching the digital generation'...


....but I would have 400% more respect for the CFCWO if, instead of the stock photo that you see in building foyers across this great land, he had a picture of him piss drunk, pair of underwear on his head, in a Hawaiian shirt in a karaoke bar in Tehran.

If you're gonna be that high up and have a facebook page, at least have a bit of character with it. Don't put pics of you doing hardwood flooring up.

What do you want? Pics of him doing drill in a mirror? Imagine that a leader trying to be personal. I'm a senior NCO and actually had the gull to let my troops call me by my first name...where is this army going? Hard wood floor.....soooo unprofessional.

 

[421_434_226]

Maybe it is just me but would we not be easier for the Taliban to just follow a random member home from pretty much any base in Canada. As opposed to tracking you down through Facebook.

 

[George Wallace]

Maybe it is just me but would we not be easier for the Taliban to just follow a random member home from pretty much any base in Canada. As opposed to tracking you down through Facebook.

Visa's, Airline Tickets, accomondations, a vehicle, living expenses, for how many Taliban to come to Canada to do this?

This is much easier: Killing with Keyboards

 

[armyvern]

Visa's, Airline Tickets, accomondations, a vehicle, living expenses, for how many Taliban to come to Canada to do this?

This is much easier: Killing with Keyboards

Don't be too quick to assume such - too many Canadians already believe that they are very snug in their beds in this Nation with nary a care in the world; went out for dinner the other night at a friends place ... just two down from our very own recently-arrested Edmonton terrorists' place. The Taliban isn't the only threat and they don't need to be here themselves, they need only a source that is ... and there are.

I should have snapped a pic of his (non-Canadian) capitol-city named licence plate for my crackbook album.

 

[Kat Stevens]

There are plenty of homegrown, foaming at the mouth, fanatics to carry out this type of thing.

 

[421_434_226]

I would think that it would take the same amount of people to place a random military member and their family in danger, who had identified themselves through a social network as it would to place that person outside of a base and follow a random member home.
My use of the word "easier" was the wrong choice, I meant to compare the differences between identifying yourself on Facebook and just getting into your uniform and going to work.
To get back to the original topic the CWO's Facebook profile I think it is excellent and may even "like" it.