Social Networking for Military Moms

I’ve moved 10 times since my husband began his Navy career.  Staying in touch with family and friends as I unpack and repack my belongings is a real challenge. Lately, I’ve had great success with some of the most popular social networks, particularly Twitter. Joining Twitter has even helped boost my freelance writing career. But, as a military mom, I know that I have to be extra-careful when communicating via social networks.

There’s no question that Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace,Twitter and other social networks have helped hundreds of military moms stay in touch with family and friends around the world. It’s easy to upload baby pictures, travel stories and other information you want to share with people you’ve met at previous duty stations. Even better, you can network with colleagues, pass news quickly and perhaps, if you’re lucky, find a new job through social networking.

For military moms, though, social networking can be full of pitfalls. Some of them are shared by everyone who connects via social networks. Jeopardizing present and future employment is at the top of anyone’s list. News reports describe dozens of cases – employees fired because they mentioned how dull their jobs were on Facebook, job applicants turned down because of party photos they’d posted online, and so on. It makes sense to think, “Would I include this on a job application?” before posting personal thoughts or photos online, because employers do check social networking sites. Thinking ahead can save your job.

More importantly, though, military moms need to keep operational security – also known as OPSEC – in mind when using social networks. The last thing any of us should do is put sensitive information online. This includes not only obviously classified information, like Navy ship schedules and details of deployment activities, but also information, particularly photos about weapons, unit locations and return dates. (It’s time to delete that countdown ticker from your blog.)

Another thing to keep in mind is that your husband’s or partner’s command checks social networks for OPSEC violations and other sensitive information. The command IT staff will eventually get around to reading what you’ve written. You definitely have a right to free speech, but you also have a responsibility to use it wisely. Networking with friends in order to find ways to survive a deployment is a good thing to do.  Ranting online about enhanced security procedures at your base or lack of Internet service at XYZ Desert Outpost is putting the person you love and an entire military unit at risk. Getting too personal online could be embarrassing to you or your husband.

In the final analysis, military moms have extra responsibilities when using social networks. Be prudent; the job you save could be your own. More importantly, the life you save could be your husband’s.

Related posts:

1. Blogging for Military Moms
2. Social Networking Burn-Out
3. Use Military Career Search Resources to Find Your Next Job
4. Moms in Social Networking Cause a Stir
5. Frugal Fitness for Military Moms