The miracle database Published June 8, 2012 By Staff Sgt. Patrick Harrower 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The terrorists have finally done it. They made an online database that shows us every detail about them. We can look at pictures of them working and training with their buddies. They upload pictures of themselves with the vehicles and weapon systems they use. They even go as far as complaining about their leadership and the other terrorists they work with. Some of them even tag themselves as being at their bases, homes and along worldly travels. The database also has opened up a huge door for the media. Reporters no longer have to actively seek out their stories, hunt down contacts and interview subjects. They can check the database to see what the terrorists are up to. They can practically get an entire story from observing the terrorists as they gossip, cyber-bully, speculate, argue and give away all of their critical operational security information on this database. This may sound like a foolish endeavor on their behalf, but imagine what those adversaries might think about how the common service member uses Facebook. This is something Airmen do everyday when they use Facebook to capture every facet of their lives. These are the ways Facebook can make us vulnerable to our nation's adversaries. While Facebook is a great tool for keeping connected with family and people you have served with, never forget that operations security is everyone's responsibility. The responsibility to safeguard our information falls on the enlisted, commissioned, civilians and dependants. By simply allowing a device to automatically tag your location when you post, you could be plotting every step of your entire work day, a base exercise or even a deployment. You may be inadvertently showing the exact path of a major military movement. When you post photos of yourself on the flightline with aircraft tail numbers visible, one could gather information on how many planes are in your location. Combine that with automatic tagging and you have just saved our adversaries from months of valuable reconnaissance work. Your base may go through a real-world event or an exercise that inconveniences you in some way. It may feel good to jump on Facebook and vent or complain about the processes going on around you. While it may feel better to get the issue off your chest, you may be providing our adversaries or the media with a step-by-step description on exactly how your base reacts to a specific situation. Think it would be a great place to chastise and bully a co-worker? Would you treat that person the same way if you were both standing in front of your commander? How would you like it if the unkind words and criticism you bestowed on that individual turned into a full-fledged media storm? Although this behavior shouldn't be happening, you may think it is funny to take an unprofessional photo or video and post it online. This not only shows a lack of discipline to our enemies, but also shows our supporters that we may not be living up to the image they have of us. As military members, it is important to remember our online activities are always being watched. From our adversaries to our critics and the media, our actions are held to a higher standard. Always maintain a professional image and don't disappoint our supporters. It is everyone's responsibility.