OPSEC violations are only a few thumb taps away. And now, so is guidance about how to avoid them.

In December, the Navy released an app designed as a one-stop shop for all things operational security. Topics range from cautions against using geo-tagging on your smart phone to age-old threats like an eavesdropping serverwaitress.

What you need to know:

1. Downloading it. "Naval OPSEC" is the Navy's fifth mobile application and can be downloaded on The Navy officials have released their fifth official mobile application — this new app is the second app designed to allow sailors to complete General Military Training requirements using only an IOS or Android mobile device. Navy OPSEC, released on the Apple iTunes and Google Play. You can quickly review and complete your requirement for OPSEC General Military Military Training on the app. stores Dec. 2, is now a Navy application that provides not only the Navy and Department of Defense Operational security, it also puts at a sailors fingertips all the Navy and military references on the subject as well.

1. Why Apps  — Navy officials know that nearly every sailor in the fleet owns a smart phone — and using this medium to communicate as well as educate their workforce is now a priority in the ranks.

Couple that with the the fact that Secretary of the

"We’re trying to provide as many options as possible for command and sailors by increasing the different methods we can deliver training," said Bill Marvel, GMTeneral Military Training program manager at the Naval Education and Training Command. "We still have people who like to give and receive instructor-led training. ," Marvel said."But where we have the ability to increase access to that training through a mobile application, then we’d like to do it." 

2. The training. This is the second app that can totally replace classroom-led GMT led in your division. What’s New — Marvel said that in September, the Navy released it’s first GMT application that would totally replace the need for sailors to sit in a class and learn about domestic violence, how to prevent it and also what to do about it when you find it. 

"Domestic Violence was the first GMT mobile app available and that was strictly GMT," Marvel said "OPSEC includes resources and references and other content in addition to the training course."

The best part of this way of delivering training is that if Sailors can opt to log their so choose, they can sign up by entering their Defense Department of Defense identification number into the application so once they complete the training, it’s automatically entered into the Navy’s training database. This also shows up in their command's What’s more is that their completion isn’t just noted in their record, but it shows up on their command’s training completion reports, too

"That was was one of the benchmarks in going down this road with mobile training application," Marvel said.

But one of the biggest hurdles was to make sure that while sailor's completion was documented automatically and not requiring any more administrative burdens on individuals or commands, was not to violate any policies on personally identifiable information in the process.

It's not just training applications, Navy officials have also released this year an application to help sailors understand the advancement process and calculate their final multiple scores — double-checking the Navy's math.

The app's training includes videos, instructions, briefings and an assessment, all in the smooth navigation of a smart phone app.

3. More apps.What available — Along with the OPSEC course, The Navy also released an application from the Navy Personnel Command called "New to the Navy." 

It's a This app is really a smorgasbord of Navy gouge for newbies and even some old salts. -related information for those just coming in the Navy, but officials say that even old salts can get good info for themselves — or their sailors by having this app on their mobile device. Among the topics and information on this app are details on how to get your household goods shipped and or which receipts you need to keep while on official travel. It also has a glossary to help you decipher Navy acronyms.

This follows the launch of the first app about preventing domestic violence, which also can be completed for full GMT credit.

The information is presented in the application in more of a conversational way and has information for new officers as well as enlisted sailors and is a primer of Navy related information, complete with official rules and references — and even sports a glossary to help newbies and salts alike decipher acronyms.

4. The end of GMT. Well, sort of. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus has vowed to ditch announced that he was doing away with General Military Training — at least from the standpoint of how tedious and yawn-inducing it has become.  of how it’s traditionally been delivered is now a priority of Navy training officials.

The service is working on an app to learn about anti-terrorism and force protection. And developers are working on more apps as part of the testing of tablets for sailors. That includes making electronic study aids and videos for boot camp.  Level One as well as records management — both periodic requirements under General Military Training as well as just good information to know. — What’s coming — Marvel says the push is on to provide more access to GMT topics through apps and, where it’s possible, to put the content into this format, they’ll do it. 

5. Gaining popularity. Apps are already in the works that will allow sailors to More applications are being developed to help with other types of official training as part of the boot camp eSailor initiative that is testing the idea of using smart devices — in this case tablets — instead of paper  study aids at boot camp. Officials know smart phones are an extension of millennials' bodies and that they need to offer them devices and apps that will allow them to learn and innovate. Next year, boot camp plans to expand its tablet testing, and are include apps to help them identify rank, insignia, aircraft and more.expecting to expand these tests at Great Lakes to more recruits over the next couple years and applications that could have impact beyond Recruit Training Command are coming. 

In the works are applications that help sailors identify types of aircraft as well as identifying rank and insignia of not only the Navy, but all military the services as well.

The apps are proving popular. The domestic violence one app has garnered gotten 3,715 downloads and helped 1,660 sailors complete their training. And the Who’s using — Navy officials are tracking downloads of all the Navy apps now available. The Domestic Violence Prevention app, available since early September has been downloaded 3,715 times, 2,230 of them from the Apple Store and 1,485 Android Versions. To date, 1,660 sailors have had their course completion documented in the Navy Training Management and Planning System database. After just six days on the street, the OPSEC Training app, as of Dec. 8, had 84 total downloads with 11 sailors already documenting completion in the Navy’s training database. Meanwhile Navy’s advancement final multiple score calculator, just over a month old, has been downloaded 5,850 times.

Mark D. Faram is a former reporter for Navy Times. He was a senior writer covering personnel, cultural and historical issues. A nine-year active duty Navy veteran, Faram served from 1978 to 1987 as a Navy Diver and photographer.

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