Preparing Your Home for Your Deployment

Sadly, there are enemies to our security right here at home. Preparing for a deployment includes instituting a good security plan for your own home.

FIRST:

OPSEC applies to YOU.

• I know of one physician who went on leave, and because this bit of information was prominently displayed at her office, someone broke into her home. Fortunately she had an alarm system, so the intruder left.
• I know another physician who was on a 5 week training exercise, and someone broke into her house, stole her car, stereo, computer, and cooked a pizza.

DON'T:

• broadcast your absence to others (this includes bragging, whining, etc.)
• let your office staff tell others where you are.
  • Unfortunately, your staff will often want to appease patients (or impress them with how understaffed you are) by telling them about your absences ("I'm sorry, but you can't get an appointment with Dr. Jones because he's been sent to Kosovo for six months.")
  • Instead, they should say something like "Dr. Jones does not have appointments. We'd be happy to make an appointment for you with another physician." Good luck with that, but it's worth a try.
  • Also, don't have your staff broadcast via e-mail that you'll be gone; there is NO control over who sees that.

DO:

• Stop the mail.
• Stop the newspaper delivery.
• Have someone check your house:
  • despite stopping mail and the paper, people will toss items in your driveway and leave flyers on your door.
• Have someone cut the grass.
• Buy timers for lights.
• Have people park in your place at home and at work.
• GET A SECURITY SYSTEM
• Tell people YOU TRUST that you'll be gone and ask them to check your house. Maybe even have a party in your yard.
• Meet and befriend your neighbors.