OPSEC ‘Loose Lips Sink Ships’
It is time to get this topic at the top of the pages again.
Please do not post anything about Ship movement's, when they deploy, where they are, anything. Yes some of the information can be found in the news, but that does NOT mean that people on here should post it. Even if your Sailor tells you when a Ship will be making a deployment does NOT mean that you can post that information here, this is a public site.
By Journalist 1st Class Cindy Gill, NAVEUR Public Affairs
LONDON (NNS) -- Within 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.
OPSEC is a multi-faceted concept that strives to prevent the inadvertent compromise of sensitive or classified activities, capabilities or intentions. According to Gunnery Sgt. Fred Wilson, assistant OPSEC officer and OPSEC program manager at Navy Europe Headquarters in London, OPSEC involves a relatively simple five-step process that anyone can use.
- Identify critical information. The information you have that could assist an adversary in any way.
- Analyze the threat to that information. Does an adversary have the capability to collect or use the information, and if so, how?
- Analyze the vulnerabilities. How is the critical information relayed in the course of your daily duties and how is it protected?
- Assess the risk. How likely is it that the information could be compromised?
- Develop countermeasures. What can you do to protect the information from being disclosed?
“These steps should be taken from the adversary’s perspective,” said Wilson. “In order to catch a bad guy, you have to think like one.”
Wilson explained that OPSEC requires the active participation of every servicemember, regardless of his or her rank or job. He added that the best defense is educating people through annual required training on how to protect critical information.
“It’s a combination of people knowing what information is considered sensitive and then knowing when to shut their mouth,” Wilson said.
To put OPSEC in perspective, Wilson said he has seen Sailors and Marines go to extreme lengths to protect information about things such as surprise birthday parties and promotion lists, yet discuss details of their work freely and openly.
“We need to take that same mindset and apply it to our everyday job,” said Wilson.
One of OPSEC’s worst enemies, Wilson said, is convenience. Making the job efficient may increase productivity, but easier isn’t always better. The path of least resistance, while the easiest to travel, usually offers the least amount of protection.
“The combination of secure communications and physical security, if used consistently and properly, greatly reduce the risk of disclosure,” said Wilson.
Walking to another office to speak face-to-face with someone is more secure than talking on a regular phone. When this is not possible, secure communication equipment include secure email, telephone and fax machines. No matter which method is use, servicemembers should hold conversations using a secure medium.
“These procedures are put in place for a reason,” said Wilson. “If the information is not instantaneously available to you then it’s shouldn’t be readily available to a potential adversary.”
Wilson offered these simple guidelines. Avoid talking about work away from the office. Be aware of your immediate surroundings at all times and who is in the area. Also keep in mind that what is not being said can be information in itself.
“The mere fact that a person is trying talk around a subject will actually raise interest in what is being said and could give clear direction for someone to focus their attention,” said Wilson.
Whether on or off work, a Sailor’s safest bet is to assume nothing.
“Just because a person has a clearance for certain levels of information does not necessarily mean they have the need to know that information,” said Wilson.
Communication comes in many forms, not just verbal and written. Routines and habits also need to be considered with OPSEC in mind. Wilson explained that what seems innocent or insignificant can in fact be a piece of a much larger puzzle.
“A classic example is the increase of pizza delivery at the White House and Pentagon prior to the onset of Operation Desert Storm. We need to think three or four layers down.”
For more Naval Forces Europe news, go to their custom Navy NewsStand Web page at www.news.navy.mil/local/naveur.
OPSEC
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mary c 3 -jeff's mom- HT on -
I have my flag.....
Blue Star Mother........ hanging on the front porch window
God forbid, it should ever be a gold star !
much less because of something I might say.
:(
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Permalink Reply by Steve's Mom on -
bumping this discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sandra on -
I have started a discussion page with the name of my sailor's hisp, USS Klakring ( I am only memeber currently) but I do not plan on discussing location,of ship, just wantto speak with moms of sailors also on Klakring, is this okay? I don't want to get anyone into trouble.
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Permalink Reply by Margie on -
Nice article by MCC1 Gill. I can't emphasize as a Navy Mom how important this is! My son's unit experienced a difficulty that affected 100% of the command when one lone servicemember posted the "wrong" info on a social networking site. It cost the command their time, effort (both on-duty and after hours), funds -- your taxpayer dollars, and headaches. I'm thankful a shipmate saw it and turned him in to the command.
I also have a background in Dept of Defense Public Relations (Dept. of Navy) and Electronic Warfare, so I cannot agree enough with the letter and the spirit of this article! I hope it stays "at the top" and think it should be a mandatory read for all members. I'm just picky that way. Call me cautious, call me strange, but don't let loose lips sink ships (or don't let your comment be the last piece of the info puzzle for the bad guys out there monitoring us).
Thanks!
Margie
Florida
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Permalink Reply by Mary on -
Thank you Margie. I got myself into a heated discussion on this very site with a mom who basically thought I was paranoid. NOT paranoid - VERY cautious. I think it should be MANDATORY that every mom, dad, wife, husband, sister, brother have to read this and given a quiz on what they understand before they can be allowed to sign up for this site. I think OPSEC should also keep a constant set of flashing lips with your finger over your mouth for silence to remind us of this - no matter what page - it always keeps flashing. Thank you OPSEC for pulling this post forward.
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Permalink Reply by Laura A on -
I have a question about the gold star. I was under the impression a gold star in the window signified a child serving in war time (2 for 2 children, etc.) Is that correct or does it signify a child lost during war time? Thank you for answers.
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Permalink Reply by Hoppi aka Angie on -
About the Service Flag
The Service flag is an official banner authorized by the Department of Defense for display by families who have members serving in the Armed Forces during any period of war or hostilities the United States may be engaged in for the duration of such hostilities.
The Service flag, also called the Blue Star Flag, was designed and patented by WWI Army Captain Robert L. Queisser of the 5th Ohio Infantry who had two sons serving on the front line. The flag quickly became the unofficial symbol of a child in service. President Wilson became part of this history when in 1918 he approved a suggestion made by the Women's Committee of the Council of National Defenses that mothers who had lost a child serving in the war wear a gold gilt star on the traditional black mourning arm band. This led to the tradition of covering the blue star with a gold star on the Service flag to indicate that the service member has died.
During WWII the practice of displaying the Service flag became much more widespread. Most flags were hand made by mothers across the nation. One of the most famous flags was that of the five Sullivan brothers who all perished on the U.S.S. Juneau.
The Blue Star Mothers was founded as a Veteran Service Organization and was part of a movement to provide care packages to military members serving overseas and also provided assistance to families who encountered hardships as a result of their son or husband serving in the war.
In 1960 Congress chartered the Blue Star Mothers of America as a Veterans Service Organization and in 1966, the Department of Defense revised the specifications for design, manufacture and display of the Service flag.
The Department of Defense specifies that family members authorized to display the flag include the wife, husband, mother, father, stepmother or father, parent through adoption, foster parents who stand or stood loco parentis, children, stepchildren, children through adoption, brothers, sisters and half brothers or sisters of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States. The flag should be displayed in a window of the residence of persons authorized.
The Service flag may also be displayed by an organization to honor the members of that organization serving during a period of war or hostilities.
The Service Flag is an indoor flag and should be flown facing out from the front window of the home or organization.
If the U.S. flag is also displayed with the Service flag, the U.S. flag should be of equal or greater proportions and should take the place of honor above the Service flag.
Each blue star on the flag represents a service member in active duty. A gold star is displayed if a service member is killed in action or dies in service. If several stars are displayed by one family the gold star takes the honor of being placed at the top. The gold star should be slightly smaller than the blue star to create a blue border surrounding the gold star.
Display of a Service Star Banner is done during times of war. Once again families are displaying banners at home. Blue Star Flags may be purchased through the internet, at stores, or made by hand.
Blue Star Mothers
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Permalink Reply by Laura A on
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Thank you so much for that information. It's very interesting and although I had picked up bits and pieces through the years, I didn't have the full story - which I like to have. You've been a big help. Thanks again!
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Permalink Reply by Guilderland on -
I know when I was married to a submarine sailor, the wives found out a couple of days before the men left and a couple of days when they would come home. I know when I was part of the submarine family, and being enlisted, the wives thought I knew where they were; I had no clue whatsoever. I just met them at the airport and we celebrated after.
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Permalink Reply by Chris A. on -
All this talk reminds me of many years ago when I was an Air Force wife. One day my husband came home from work, packed his bags, kissed me goodbye and was gone, along with almost every other guy on the base. None of us wives knew anything until 3 days later when the MAILMAN (!?) told me that they'd all gone to Florida. It was the Cuban Missile Crisis! Shortly thereafter the Red Cross called and confirmed what the mailman already knew. I always thought it was an interesting breach of security that the civilian mailman knew what was obviously supposed to be classified info. and I wondered how it was leaked.
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Permalink Reply by Mom of a Linguist on
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Wish I'd seen this discussion a few days ago before I first posted. Yes, it does need to be a sticky. I got an early morning cross-country phone call today from my daughter asking me to delete my first post because she thought she could be traced through it. I used to think she was paranoid about Navy secrecy because of her job. I guess she's not particularly paranoid. I certainly was never given any information in a new parent's packet about OPSEC.
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