How to Practice OPSEC

OPSEC, which is also known as Operational Security, is not a new practice in the military, but rather an implied practice dating back to George Washington and the Revolutionary war; it is also a common-sense practice. OPSEC is a practice that guides the military members, their spouses and children, their extended family and their friends. In other words, most everyone who knows someone in the military can learn and utilize OPSEC. OPSEC is the ability to deny information that is essential to carrying out any military operation from being accessed or learned by anyone who may attempt to use that information against our military. These bits and pieces that get put out there can be assembled in ways for those who pose a threat to get a better picture of what is going on, and this can be dangerous to our military. Learning to practice OPSEC has become everyone’s responsibility; so learn how to protect sensitive information correctly.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Learn who should practice OPSEC. Military members, their husbands or wives, their children, their parents and extended family members and their friends should learn to not give out information in venues that can be easily accessed by just about anyone. They have a responsibility to protect the information they have access to from falling into the wrong hands.
2. Understand what information is considered sensitive and even critical to the military. Information about the exact location of soldiers, troop movement (deployments, returns, TDYs and R&R included) and dates, times and timeframes should never be disclosed. Information about weapon systems, training and numbers are also sensitive pieces of information. Missions, exercises and changes in duty hours at specific bases are also to be considered sensitive information that can be put together to give a better picture of what may be taking place or soon to be taking place.
3. Know that just because it appeared on the news does not make it okay to talk about it. This will only verify the information. So what, it appears on the base website. Military-run sites are highly monitored. In other words, they know who frequents the sites, but OPSEC must still be practiced regardless of where the information appears.
4. Keep sensitive information out of websites, journal posts, message boards and any other online forum and venue. We are taught not to put out too much information about ourselves on the Internet because of the personal dangers this can present, so why would anyone think it was okay to put down specific information regarding times, dates, time frames, locations and more that would allow people they do not know to view the information and do whatever they wanted with it? That puts our troops in more danger.
5. Stop using decorative tickers on websites and in online venues. Many family members of deployed military have taken to using countdown tickers that give out specific information as to when the troop will return or a time frame, which breeches OPSEC. For those that really feel the need to broadcast this type of information, it would be better to have a ticker that indicates the amount of time their soldier has been gone, although it would be better to refrain from this completely.
6. Refrain from sending sensitive information via emails and instant messages. We are well aware that emails and instant messages are not secure venues and information sent can wind up in the wrong hands.
7. Never advertise specific information about a soldier. This would include not putting out information regarding the soldier's name, rank and unit. In photos, learn to black out the soldiers name tape and rank.
8. Practice OPSEC when using telephones and cellphones. It may sound funny, but you never know who can be listening, right?
9. Do not discuss sensitive information out in public venues. Think about it, you and a friend are on line at the supermarket and talking about a son’s upcoming deployment and the person standing behind you overhears. You just put sensitive information out there which can potentially compromise a mission and create danger for our troops. Learn to think before you speak and refrain from sensitive information conversations in public.

Tips & Warnings

• It is really important, for family members of military especially, to remember that any bit of information that is put out on the Internet can be gathered into a bigger picture. You put in the profile on a website that you are stationed at a specific base, then in the signature you use a ticker counting down the deployment and you now have someone that potentially knows a when and where a deployment is due back. It may not present an immediate threat, but it can assist in planning an eventual possibility. Practicing OPSEC is meant to eliminate that ease of access to information falling into the wrong hands.
• Military families need to raise their children to understand the importance of OPSEC. Children utilize the Internet as their number-one means of communication; it is important they learn what information needs to be kept off the Internet. In generally, teach them to practice smart OPSEC and it will become a basic instinct.