The Chief of the Defence Force, ADML Chris Barrie has called upon Defence personnel to take stock of their own personal security. What does this entail?

LEUT John Youngman, the Naval Investigative Service Manager/Operations, has helped Navy News prepare this dot point list of recommendations.

Loose lips sink ships - Don't discuss work related matters with your shipmates in public places such as hotels, restaurants or on trains or buses. This applies as much to civilian Defence department or contractor employees. A simple remark on how a vessel maintenance project is progressing might well give a clear indication to an eavesdropper as to how long that ship will be unavailable for operations. Keeping your identify secret also minimises the risk of harassment.

Wearing your uniform to work - This will generally depend on where you live. In some suburbs the sight of a Defence uniform has created civilian hostility. There have already been reports of soldiers and sailors being harassed. Many RAN personnel have already switched to wearing plain clothes to work. Consider changing into your uniform at the office or on board? Again depending on the suburb involved, collect children from school "out of uniform." Changing out of uniform is a problem for members of the Defence Recruiting Organisation. Their appearance in uniform is a Defence "show casing" initiative, particularly when visiting schools.

Don't show that you are from Defence - Some Defence personnel still indicate they are from Defence by the badges they wear on the lapels of their civilian suits or the RAN branding on the briefcases or laptop computer bags they carry. Again depending on circumstances, remove the badges and change bags.

Keeping the car out of sight - Long standing regulations state that any Defence employee who takes a Defence vehicle home at night, must put it in a garage. Under "Weathercock Amber" regulations, this rule is even more important. Defence vehicles should be kept out of sight. The question may well be asked, "does the member need to take the Defence vehicle home?" Defence vehicles should be left in the street as little as possible. Again the brightly painted vehicles of Defence Recruiting may provide a possible target for malcontents.

Telling the PARTNER - Under the present security regime spouses should be kept informed of the security ramifications involved under "Amber", and indeed what they will involve should the level go to "Red." To what level children should be informed will depend on their ages. This recommendation is very important for those living in married quarters on Defence bases.

Keeping the blinds drawn - Instructions have already been issued to personnel to work with the window blinds drawn. The purpose is twofold, one is to prevent any outsider with a telephoto camera "shooting" work papers or data on computer screens and the other that, in the event of an external explosion, the curtains will catch many of the slithers of glass from the breaking windows.

Identify yourself - All Defence members will wear their Defence issued identification at all times while on establishments. However they should remove them once outside the gate.

Who goes there? - Any person not wearing identification cards should be challenged provided the challenger does not perceive a threat to his or her own safety. Should a perceived dangerous situation arise Naval Police should be called. Any person who is seen in an area where he or she, is not known to others and is perceived as a "stranger", should also be challenged.

Keep the door locked - Employees should keep their own workspaces secure. Use of classified documents should be minimised and returned to the safe as soon as possible. Valuable and "attractive" items should be locked away. Make sure your personal identification card cannot be stolen. Is your wallet or purse in a safe place? Keep watch on behalf of workmates.

Computer security, signals - Maintain computer security. Don't leave "hard copy" signals around.

LEUT Youngman said, "security is everyone's responsibility.

"We should look out for ourselves, our workmates and our service."

He appealed to Defence members to cooperate with Naval Police and the sailors who are supporting them at gangways around the nation.