OPSEC is everyone’s responsibility

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Sean Martin
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  According to Air Force Instruction 10-701, Operations Security, "The purpose of OPSEC is to reduce the vulnerability of Air Force missions by eliminating or reducing successful adversary collection and exploitation of critical information. The process applies to all activities that prepare, sustain, or employ forces during all phases of operations."

"Operations Security is a process designed to protect critical information that we deem important to us," said Maj. Matt Callows, 2nd Bomb Wing OPSEC programs manager.
OPSEC is not a classification level. It is a process used to protect information that is not classified, but is critical to the mission.

"An important thing is to know is what your critical information is, "said Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Labreck, alternate 2nd Bomb Wing OPSEC programs manager. "You cannot protect something if you do not know what it is."

Each unit has their own list of critical information appropriate for their work center.

"There is a critical information list that contains OPSEC items identified by units as critical to the wing's mission," said Callow. "We meet with them and record high-risk items or information."

When talking about critical information, it is important to be aware of your surroundings.
"Whether in the exchange, commissary, or just out and about, you need to be aware of what you're saying and to whom you are saying it," said LaBreck. "Some things are not meant to be heard by non-military people."

Some of the most common OPSEC violations occur when people least expect themselves of doing it.

"We should always be under the assumption that someone is listening," said Callow. "Social media has been one of the places for the biggest leak of critical information over the last decade or more. It's not just up to us, but to our families as well to protect this information."

It is an Airman's responsibility to educate our families about what not to talk about so they are not unknowingly putting out information that may harm us or our objectives, said Callow.

Barksdale has a 100 percent shred policy, which is in place to help eliminate the dispersion of critical information. This is the most important thing people must follow.

"Far too often, you will see pieces of paper in trash cans that could have been shredded, but were not," said LaBreck. "If our adversary were to collect enough of this information, they would be able to get a clear picture of what we are doing. We need to prevent these possible detrimental things from happening."

When information is given out or leaked to the enemy, the element of surprise goes away.

"We need to remain quiet about what we are doing at all times," said Callow. "Loose lips, sink ships."

It is the responsibility of unit OPSEC coordinators to give a brief about their unit's critical information and ensure they are informed, at all times, about any changes.

Although OPSEC is very important in a deployed environment, it is equally important in a stateside location.

"In a deployed location, you are on guard and thinking about this kind of stuff," said Callow. "Here, you may not think about as much as you should. You may feel that since you are in the states, it is ok to openly talk about things."

OPSEC awareness is everyone's responsibility, from the newest Airmen up to the highest general, said LaBreck.