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With the influx of social media, Web 2.0 platforms and subsequent ease in sharing of sensitive and personally identifying information, Airmen should consider the risks and vulnerabilities in both personal and official activities.
No one understands that more than the individuals tasked specifically to remind Airmen and their families of the issues — the operations security program office.
“It’s critical for all Airmen to understand OPSEC,” said Maj. Gerald I. Smith Jr., OPSEC Program chief. “OPSEC is all about one thing: protecting unclassified information that is sensitive or critical in nature from our adversaries”.
Armed with our critical information, adversaries can easily take measures to cause mission failure and loss of lives. In fact, more than 80 percent of our adversaries’ intelligence comes from unclassified sources such as trash, unsecured phone (landline and cell) or e-mails, social engineering and surveillance, Major Smith said.
“The U.S. military has a technological advantage and to keep that advantage we must protect our critical information,” said Master Sgt. Rodney Brooker, 86th AW OPSEC Program manager.
So what can you do to help? Integrate OPSEC into your day-to-day activities.
First, understand what type of unclassified information is considered critical or sensitive. This type of information is compiled from a threat and vulnerability assessment or your unit and published in your unit and/or wing Critical Information List, or CIL. The wing and unit CIL should be posted next to everyone’s phone or computer for easy reference as a reminder to what information requires additional measures to protect.
Second, once familiar with the wing and unit CIL, Airmen need to also know what measures they can take to protect that information.
Among the many measures is shredding all documents, to include stationery such as post-it-notes.
While that may seem overboard, it eliminates the process of trying to determine what is considered critical information and to prevent the accidental throwing away of critical information.
By shredding everything, you take the guess work out of it.
Even information that may seem insignificant can be pieced together with other information by our adversaries to derive critical information which can be exploited. Therefore complying with the wing’s 100 percent shred policy makes sense.
Other measures personnel can take to protect critical information is to encrypt e-mails or use secure communication systems when sending something that may be considered critical.
Additional measures Major Smith recommends include securing buildings and offices when not occupied, using privacy act cover sheets, limiting workplace discussion to a need-to-know basis and not discussing operations outside of work or with family.
“Airmen also must remember that inappropriate posting of critical information on social media sites is punishable by the UCMJ,” the major said.
Airmen using non-classified systems must ensure they are not posting classified, restricted distribution, proprietary or For Official Use Only information on public websites to include Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, blog sites, etc.
In addition to all these measures, Airmen also must ensure they receive their initial and annual OPSEC awareness training from their unit coordinator, said Tech. Sgt. Andrew Graham.
Lastly, to create an OPSEC culture in your unit and to prevent an incoming caller from disclosing critical information, Major Smith recommends all personnel answer the phone, as part of their greeting, with the phrase “unsecure line.”
“Good OPSEC is absolutely critical, not only for mission success, but also for the safety and well being of our Airmen, civilians and their families,” the major said.
