1:15 AM....

Yes, it is that late/early... I have come out to the living room because Peter is fast asleep, after watching a few episodes of 30 Rock, and I dont want to bother him. I cant sleep even though I should be getting alot of rest because i only have half of the day with him tomorrow. He is leaving [cant say when exactly or where for fear of the OPSEC patrol... sooo shhhhhh... ] and that means a few things.

* my bed will be empty for a while [ no more than a month ]

* I will have to get used to sleeping alone

* I wont be able to talk to him everyday

*People will ask questions that I can exactly answer

*I will miss him terribly.

I have been thinking alot lately about this whole OPSEC thing. For anyone who doesnt know what OPSEC is or means... here is what the Military says it means.

What is OPSEC?

Operations Security, or OPSEC, is keeping potential adversaries from discovering our critical information. As the name suggests, it protects our operations planned, in progress, and those completed. Success depends on secrecy and surprise, so the military can accomplish the mission faster and with less risk. Our adversaries want our information, and they don't concentrate on only sailors to get it. They want you, the family member.

Protecting Critical Information

Even though information may not be secret, it can be what we call critical information. Critical information deals with specific facts about military intentions, capabilities, operations or activities. If an adversary knew this detailed information, our mission accomplishment and personnel safety could be jeopardized. It must be protected to ensure an adversary doesn't gain a significant advantage. By being a member of the military family, you! u will often know some bits of critical information. Do not discuss them outside of your immediate family and especially not over the telephone.

Examples Of Critical Information

Detailed information about the mission of assigned units.
Details on locations and times of unit deployments.
Personnel transactions that occur in large numbers (Example: pay information, powers of attorney, wills, deployment information).
References to trends in unit morale or personnel problems.

Details concerning security procedures.

Personally I think that some Army [Military] Wives get a little too anal about this. I have seen [and done] things that dont seem bad at all, like posting that you husband is leaving in a FEW days. Coming home in a FEW weeks, OR even "My husband is coming home on Wednesday!" [that is just an example] and I have seen other Military/ Army wives JUMP down that persons throat while screaming "OPSEC, OPSEC, OPSEC... REMEMBER OPSEC". All I think to myself is "REALLY?" You have nothing better to do in your own life than to remind someone else about OPSEC, which is clearly something you dont have a good understanding what it is in the first place, or you would have realized that nothing in that statement was violating OPSEC rules. You have no idea where her husband is coming from, only that he is coming home. You do not know if he is on Military orders/time, or if he is coming home from a weekend with the boys. Things like that really make me upset. I hate when people dont read, and yet want to tell everyone else what they are doing wrong.

My other peeve with OPSEC, is that i know alot of people in the Military [Family, Friends from high school, and now being married to a man who joined the Army and knowing all his friends] who post the exact DATES and TIMES of flights, deployments, and other various 'MOVEMENTS' yet NOTHING is said to them. My feeling is that, YES we do need to keep exact dates and times quiet, but I do not want to be slammed for saying that "my husband is leaving for a month". Really I have no idea if it will be a 3,4,5 weeks... And if you look up or have known anyone in the Amry they all know where they do training. All you have to do is ask and you are told. I guess my problem is with all the people who sit on their high horse like they have never ever said anything that would be construed as violating OPSEC. "Loose Lips Sink Ships". Yeah pretty much. Vent over.

Guess I am just a teensy bit sad that my husband, who is my best friend and buddy, is going to be leaving me for a "month". We literally do everything together. He is my laughing partner, and the person i can just sit and be quiet next to. If i am watching TV, or on my computer, just having him in the room watching TV or playing games on his computer is soothing. We like to be near one another, it helps us to breathe better. that has always been our thing. We breathe easier when we are near to one another.

Here is a good scripture that a friend marked in my scriptures. It gives me comfort and makes all the little trials seem not so bad...

D&C section 58 verses 2-4

2. For verily I say unto you, blessed is he that keepeth my commandments, whether in life or in death; and he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven.

3. Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.

4. For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand.

I am so glad that i have good friends who look out for me and love me. I am glad i have Family who also look out for me, not only the ones that I have had all my life, but the Family I was blessed to marry into. ♥

I married my best friend ♥