OPSEC:
OPERATIONS SECURITYWithin the Navy, the odds of making it through boot camp without hearing 'Loose Lips Sink Ships' are improbable. Though the slogan is old, it still embodies the basic principle of Operational Security, or OPSEC.
What Is OPSEC?
Operations Security, or OPSEC, is keeping potential adversaries from discovering the critical information of our military. 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 soldiers to get it. They want to connect with the family member, the supporter or the friend.
There are many countries and organizations that would like to harm Americans and degrade our influence in the world. It's possible, and not unprecedented, for spouses, family members and those supporting U.S. military personnel to be targeted for intelligence collection. This is true in the United States and especially true overseas! What can you do?
Be Alert
Foreign governments and organizations collect significant amounts of useful information by using spies. A foreign agent may use a variety of approaches to befriend someone (Facebook even) and get sensitive information. This sensitive information can be critical to the success of a terrorist or spy, and consequently deadly to Americans.
Be Careful
There may be times when our troops cannot talk about the specifics of his or her job. It's very important to conceal and protect certain information such as flight schedules, ship movements, temporary duty (TDY) locations to include APO addresses and installation activities, for example. Something as simple as a phone discussion or email about where they are deploying, or going TDY, can be very useful to our enemies.
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 warrior's 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 Soldiers' Angels in supporting our warriors, you may often know some bits of critical information. Do not discuss them outside of Soldiers' Angels via email, Facebook, texts, tweets or over the telephone. We have secure means as registered angels to disseminate information and these methods need to be followed to assure we are doing our part to provide a secure support net for our warriors and their families.
Examples Of Critical Information
• Detailed information about the mission of assigned units.
• Details on locations and times of unit deployments to include APO addresses.
• References to trends in unit morale or personnel problems.
• Details concerning security proceduresThese bits of information may seem insignificant. However, to a trained adversary, they are small pieces of a puzzle that highlight what our troops doing and planning. Remember, the elements of security and surprise are vital to the accomplishment of the goals of the military and their collective personnel protection. It is your duty as an Angel to assure that protection.The bottom line is to use common sense and keep our troops safe on the front lines!
"OPSEC is a vital element in protecting the troops and missions, and I want to stress how vital a role every member of the team
plays in ensuring that we deny our adversaries potentially useful information.
"Whether we are on duty or off duty, we cannot afford to let our guard down. Your diligence in OPSEC
is key to ensuring our effectiveness in operations and our collective safety.
Together, we will succeed."
Maj. Gen. Keith B. Alexander
Commanding General
U.S. Army Intelligence and
Security Command
