Deployment safety tips: more than 'keeping your head down'

Published Feb. 27, 2015
By Tech. Sgt. Abigail Klein
931st Air Refueling Group

MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- When it comes to military deployments, the safety of the servicemember while downrange is usually the primary concern, but that doesn't mean the families they leave behind aren't also at risk from common home security threats and other operations security concerns that have arisen as the result of the digital age.

Fortunately, these threats are often easily prevented by following a variety of simple safety procedures that can even be established before loved ones go on a temporary duty or a deployment.

Street Sense
It is important to practice good operations security and basic safety. To do this, familiarize yourself with your spouse's unit, the community, and the local emergency reporting procedures. This will help protect you and your family at home while also protecting your spouse downrange, said Master. Sgt. Felicia Sanders, 931st Air Refueling Group ground safety manager and Senior Airman Monique Ordoyne, 931st ARG safety reservist.

In additional to familiarizing yourself with the area, Sanders said it is also important to practice the following:

· Keep a handy contact list of emergency numbers
· If you have children, tell them to never admit to being home alone on the telephone or to someone at the door
· Teach children how to contact the police. Make sure they know their home address and phone number, as well as a neighbor's
· Always lock your doors, even if you are only going out for just a few minutes
· If you live alone or your spouse is deployed, don't advertise it
· If you receive an obscene phone call, hang up immediately. Don't engage. If you continue to receive calls, report them to the police or military security personnel, as well as the phone company.
· If you are going out in the evening, leave a few lights on or leave the radio playing inside.
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It's also important to follow these steps if you plan to leave town while your spouse is deployed, said Sanders.

Leaving town
· When driving a long distance, let someone know of your intended route of travel and approximate arrival time
· Prior to leaving, make sure your car is in good running condition
· If you are going to be gone for an extended time, contact base housing and military police, or civilian police if you live off-base. These agencies will check your home periodically during your absence

Social Media
Among these tips, the last recommendation has been more emphasized due to the rise in popularity of social media. While social media provides an easy, convenient way to communicate with loved ones while they are away, it can also put both servicemembers and their families in a vulnerable position if not used carefully.

To avoid this danger, Maj. Stacy Moore, 931st ARG Chief of Weapons and Tactics and Operations Security manager, recommends not announcing a spouse's deployment on social media.

"With [social media] less is more," he said. "You want to try to minimize what you put on there because things that might seem innocuous can be put together to paint a picture."

It is also important to avoid times for when a spouse is leaving or arriving home, as this can also endanger other members travelling with the deployed spouse. If you must relay information to your spouse, Moore recommends limiting communication to a landline.

"[Social media] is not the place to relay information about your military career."

For more information about how to protect servicemembers and their families during a deployment, call the 931st ARG safety office at (316) 759-3218