ALCOAST 548/08 COMDTNOTE 5700 SUBJ: SOCIAL MEDIA - UNOFFICIAL INTERNET POSTS A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 221746Z SEP 08/ALCOAST 457/08 B. OPERATIONS SECURITY (OPSEC) PROGRAM, COMDTINST M5510.24 (SERIES) C. CIVILIAN PERSONNEL ACTIONS: DISCIPLINE, PERFORMANCE, ADVERSE ACTIONS APPEALS, AND GRIEVANCES, COMDTINST M12750.4 (SERIES) D. PUBLIC AFFAIRS MANUAL, COMDTINST M5728.2 (SERIES) E. THE COAST GUARD FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (FOIA) AND PRIVACY ACTS MANUAL, COMDTINST M5260.3 (SERIES) F. LIMITED PERSONAL USE OF GOVERNMENT OFFICE EQUIPMENT, COMDTINST 5375.1 (SERIES) G. STANDARDS OF ETHICAL CONDUCT, COMDTINST M5370.8 (SERIES) H. STANDARDS OF CONDUCT, LOBBYING ACTIVITIES, COMDTINST 5370.7 (SERIES) 1. THIS ALCOAST PROVIDES INTERIM DIRECTION FOR COAST GUARD PERSONNEL WHO DESIRE TO MAKE UNOFFICIAL INTERNET POSTS ON COAST GUARD RELATED TOPICS. THE TERM COAST GUARD PERSONNEL IN THIS ALCOAST REFERS TO COAST GUARD ACTIVE DUTY, RESERVE, AND CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES AND AUXILIARY VOLUNTEERS. THE TERM UNOFFICIAL INTERNET POSTS IN THIS ALCOAST REFERS TO COAST GUARD PERSONNEL WHO EXPRESS THEIR COAST GUARD RELATED THOUGHTS, IDEAS, KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, AND OPINIONS BY POSTING ANY COAST GUARD RELATED INFORMATION TO ANY (COAST GUARD OR OTHER) INTERNET SITE. UNOFFICIAL INTERNET POSTS ARE PERSONAL EXPRESSIONS DEVELOPED AND RELEASED BY A MEMBER IN AN OFF-DUTY STATUS AND ARE NOT INITIATED BY ANY PART OF THE COAST GUARD ORGANIZATION OR REVIEWED WITHIN ANY OFFICIAL COAST GUARD APPROVAL PROCESS. 2. IAW REF A, COAST GUARD PERSONNEL WHILE IN AN OFF-DUTY STATUS (OR AS SPECIFIED BY PARAGRAPHS 3.B. AND 3.C. BELOW) ARE AUTHORIZED TO MAKE INTERNET POSTS ON COAST GUARD RELATED TOPICS AS OUTLINED IN THIS ALCOAST. THE COAST GUARD PERFORMS VALUABLE SERVICES AROUND THE WORLD EVERY DAY AND THERE IS NOBODY IN A BETTER POSITION TO TELL THIS STORY THAN EACH OF YOU. AS A RESULT, THE COAST GUARD ENCOURAGES EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS TO RESPONSIBLY ENGAGE IN UNOFFICIAL INTERNET POSTING IAW THE GUIDELINES PROVIDED BELOW THAT ARE DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE COAST GUARD AND ITS MEMBERS FROM ANY HARM ASSOCIATED WITH A POTENTIAL UNAUTHORIZED RELEASE OF PROTECTED OR NONPUBLIC INFORMATION. FURTHERMORE, WE WANT TO PROTECT COAST GUARD PERSONNEL FROM THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE AVAILABILITY OF PERSONAL INFORMATION AND POTENTIAL FOR TARGETING. MORE INFORMATION ON THESE CONCERNS MAY BE FOUND AT: HTTP://WWW.NORWICH.EDU/ABOUT/NEWS/2007/011507-SOCIALNETWORK.HTML (CHANGE TO LOWER CASE LETTERS). 3. UNOFFICIAL INTERNET POSTING GUIDELINES. COAST GUARD PERSONNEL WHO POST CONTENT ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THE COAST GUARD BEAR A RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENSURING INFORMATION DISCLOSED (INCLUDING PERSONAL COMMENTS) IS ACCURATE AND APPROPRIATE. COAST GUARD PERSONNEL SHOULD KEEP IN MIND HOW THEIR POSTS WILL REFLECT UPON THEMSELVES, THEIR UNIT, AND OUR SERVICE. THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES ARE ESTABLISHED TO ASSIST WITH THIS RESPONSIBILITY: A. IDENTIFYING ONESELF BY COAST GUARD TITLE, POSITION, AUTHORITY, SKILL SET, STATUS (ACTIVE, RESERVE, CIVILIAN, AUXILIARY), RANK/RATE OR PUBLIC OFFICE IS AUTHORIZED. COAST GUARD PERSONNEL ENGAGED IN UNOFFICIAL INTERNET POSTING, HOWEVER, SHALL TAKE STEPS TO AVOID GIVING THE PERCEPTION OF POSTING IN AN OFFICIAL CAPACITY. B. RELEASE OF COAST GUARD E-MAIL ADDRESSES, TELEPHONE NUMBERS, OR FAX NUMBERS NOT ALREADY PUBLICLY RELEASED, INCLUDING THE POSTERS WORK CONTACT INFORMATION, IS NOT AUTHORIZED. C. THE POSTING OR DISCLOSURE OF INTERNAL COAST GUARD DOCUMENTS OR INFORMATION THAT THE COAST GUARD HAS NOT OFFICIALLY RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC IS NOT AUTHORIZED. THIS POLICY APPLIES NO MATTER HOW A POSTER COMES INTO POSSESSION OF A DOCUMENT. EXAMPLES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO MEMOS, E-MAILS, MEETING NOTES, MESSAGE TRAFFIC, ARTICLES FOR CG PUBLICATIONS, WHITE PAPERS, PELORUSES, PUBLIC AFFAIRS GUIDANCE, AND ALL PRE-DECISIONAL MATERIALS. ADDITIONALLY, FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY (FOUO) AND PERSONAL IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION (PII) SHALL NOT BE RELEASED IN UNOFFICIAL INTERNET POSTS. D. COAST GUARD PERSONNEL ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ADHERING TO COAST GUARD REGULATIONS AND POLICIES CONCERNING OPSEC, INFOSEC, AND THE PRIVACY ACT AS IN ALL OTHER FORUMS OF COMMUNICATION. REF B COVERS THE SPECIFICS OF THE OPSEC PROGRAM. UNAUTHORIZED DISCLOSURE OF PROTECTED INFORMATION MAY RESULT IN ADVERSE DISCIPLINARY ACTION INCLUDING POTENTIAL VIOLATIONS OF THE UCMJ OR CIVILIAN PERSONNEL RULES UNDER REF C. E. THE RELEASE OF COAST GUARD INFORMATION THAT IS PROHIBITED FROM RELEASE BY REFS D AND E IS NOT AUTHORIZED. AS A GENERAL RULE, RELEASING YOUR PERSONAL OR MEDICAL INFORMATION, ALTHOUGH NOT RECOMMENDED, IS AUTHORIZED, HOWEVER, RELEASING ANOTHER COAST GUARD MEMBERS INFORMATION, AS WELL AS CLASSIFIED, OPERATIONAL, PROPRIETARY, OR INVESTIGATORY INFORMATION, IS NOT AUTHORIZED. F. A PHOTO, VIDEO, OR SOUND RECORDING TAKEN AT A COAST GUARD UNIT BY COAST GUARD PERSONNEL IN ANY DUTY STATUS IS CONSIDERED OFFICIAL COAST GUARD MEDIA, AS WELL AS MEDIA TAKEN BY PERSONNEL ENGAGED IN A MISSION AWAY FROM THE HOME UNIT. ALL MEDIA THAT IS RELEASABLE PER CHAPTER 5 OF REF D MAY BE POSTED UNOFFICIALLY BY COAST GUARD PERSONNEL. NEWSWORTHY MEDIA SHOULD BE RELEASED OFFICIALLY TO NEWS ORGANIZATIONS IN CONJUNCTION WITH OR COPIED TO A UNITS SERVICING PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE BEFORE POSTING UNOFFICIALLY. ALL UNIT COMMAND CADRE ARE REMINDED TO PROHIBIT THE UNOFFICIAL POSTING OF OFFICIAL COAST GUARD MEDIA THAT IS NOT RELEASABLE PER CHAPTER 5 OF REF D, E.G., LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE, INVESTIGATION RELATED, AND MEDIA THAT IS IN POOR TASTE AND/OR NOT IN KEEPING WITH SECURITY, ACCURACY, POLICY, AND PROPRIETY. COAST GUARD RELATED MEDIA TAKEN WHILE COAST GUARD PERSONNEL ARE IN AN OFF-DUTY STATUS FROM PUBLIC AREAS, E.G., PHOTO OF A CUTTER TAKEN FROM A PUBLIC PIER WHILE ON LIBERTY, IS CONSIDERED PRIVATE IMAGERY AND IS NOT SUBJECT TO THIS POLICY. G. USE OF PROTECTED COAST GUARD WORDS OR SYMBOLS OUTLINED IN CHAPTER 3.E. OF REF D MUST BE APPROVED BY COMDT (CG-09223) WHERE REQUIRED TO PREVENT THE IMPRESSION OF OFFICIAL OR IMPLIED ENDORSEMENTS. H. USE OF COAST GUARD OFFICE EQUIPMENT WHICH INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, GOVERNMENT COMPUTERS, FAX MACHINES, COPIERS, TELEPHONES, E-MAIL SYSTEM, AND INTERNET ACCESS TO MAKE UNOFFICIAL INTERNET POSTS IS AUTHORIZED AS ALLOWED BY THE LIMITED PERSONAL USE OF GOVERNMENT OFFICE EQUIPMENT GUIDELINES IN REF F. I. POSTING DURING OFFICIAL COAST GUARD WORK PERIODS, I.E., IN AN ON-DUTY STATUS, MAY BE AUTHORIZED FOR COMMAND APPROVED BREAKS IN THE WORK DAY, E.G., LUNCH OR MORNING/AFTERNOON BREAK. POSTING MAY ALSO BE AUTHORIZED AFTER THE WORKDAY WHERE LIBERTY IS CURTAILED DUE TO DUTY OR DEPLOYMENT, HOWEVER, POSTING SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED WHILE ENGAGED IN OFFICIAL DUTIES SUCH AS STANDING WATCH. J. AS WITH OTHER FORUMS OF PERSONAL PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, COAST GUARD PERSONNEL SHALL AVOID OFF DUTY BEHAVIOR THAT NEGATIVELY IMPACTS OR CONFLICTS WITH THEIR ABILITY TO EXECUTE THEIR DUTIES SUCH AS THE PROHIBITED PERSONAL CONDUCT DESCRIBED IN REFS G AND H. PERSONNEL SHOULD CONSULT THEIR LOCAL LEGAL OFFICE FOR AN ETHICS DETERMINATION PRIOR TO ENGAGING IN INTERNET ACTIVITY THAT COULD VIOLATE THE STANDARDS OF CONDUCT DETAILED IN REFS G AND H. REMEMBER OUR CORE VALUES AND GUARDIAN ETHOS. K. COAST GUARD PERSONNEL SHOULD BE AWARE THAT SOME INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS USE PUBLIC NETWORKING FORUMS TO GAIN INFORMATION THAT WILL ADVANCE THEIR CAUSES. THE COAST GUARD WILL BE PROTECTED FROM THIS THREAT AS LONG AS UNOFFICIAL POSTING IS CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GUIDELINES PROVIDED ABOVE AND POLICIES FOR RELEASE OF INFORMATION REFERENCED IN THIS ALCOAST. 4. COMDT (CG-092S) AND COMDT (CG-0922) ARE AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE CASE SPECIFIC GUIDANCE VIA LESS FORMAL MEANS AS NEEDED. 5. THIS INTERIM DIRECTION WILL BE UPDATED AS NEEDED AND FORMALIZED IN CHANGE 1 TO REF C. 6. COMDT (CG-092S) POC FOR POLICY QUESTIONS IS CDR GLYNN SMITH AT (202) 372-4602 OR GLYNN.C.SMITH(AT)USCG.MIL. 7. COMDT (CG-0922) POC FOR TACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION QUESTIONS IS CDR RON LABREC AT (202) 372-4627 OR RONALD.A.LABREC(AT)USCG.MIL. 8. RDML MARY E. LANDRY, DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENTAL AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS, SENDS. 9. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.