I’ve been thinking a lot about OPSEC lately. I know what you’re thinking, “Burn, what in the heck is this military mumbo-jumbo you’re talking about?” And of course you would be right. OPSEC is an acronym for operation security. Now you’re thinking, “What does that have to do with me, living in a small town in Ohio, or a big city in Nevada?” …or where ever you live?
“I don’t do any operations!” you might say. And that is where you’re dead wrong. Do you go to work? Do you or your kids go to school? Do you have food storage in your home? Do you have a gun and do you store ammunition? Do you want just anyone knowing the answers to these and many other questions?
OPSEC in regular civilian life is basically keeping your mouth shut. And doing the same online. I’m not saying to not have a Facebook page or a Instagram account, I’m just saying don’t put any information, or partial information, online or anywhere for all to see, hear, or know. You don’t have to be paranoid or become a hermit, but you should be careful about who knows what you and your family do. You can still have a car pool, just don’t put the schedule online. You can recommend a business but don’t tell everyone which gym you go to and your schedule for working out. If any of this information is shared, make sure of the integrity of with whom you share.
One of the things the military has taught me is that bits and pieces of information about what you and your family do can be compiled with other bits of information to form a bigger picture.
For instance, you have some new neighbors. You’ve met them and your kids have played together already. The father drives a Jeep Wrangler and has an NRA sticker on the back window. You’ve also noticed right after Christmas that among the usual Amazon boxes and wrapping paper put out for trash pick up was a long, flat box with “Winchester” on it. You also noticed that your neighbor wears 2nd amendment, and gun manufacturer t-shirts all the time. From these casual observances would you conclude that your neighbor is a hunter or owns guns? With these few things you would probably be right.
Whatever you would want to keep private maintaining good OPSEC may be more important than you realize. Especially when it comes to one’s immediate circle of friends (and others) – even those whom you may trust to varying extents.
Read that last line a few times.
OPSEC became important during the war in Vietnam when military members were too open with what they were involved with.
The following is an explanation of the military definition.
Identification of Critical information: Critical information is information about friendly intentions, capabilities and activities that allow an adversary to plan effectively to disrupt their operations.
Analysis of Threats: A Threat comes from an adversary – any individual or group that may attempt to disrupt or compromise a friendly activity.
Analysis of Vulnerabilities: Examining each aspect of the planned operation to identify OPSEC indicators that could reveal critical information and then comparing those indicators with the adversary’s intelligence collection capabilities identified in the previous action.
Assessment of Risk: First, planners analyze the vulnerabilities identified in the previous action and identify possible OPSEC measures for each vulnerability. Second, specific OPSEC measures are selected for execution based upon a risk assessment done by the commander and staff.
Application of Appropriate OPSEC Measures: The command implements the OPSEC measures selected in the assessment of risk action or, in the case of planned future operations and activities, includes the measures in specific OPSEC plans.
Remember the saying from WWII? “Loose lips sink ships.” This is how it can happen even with those you can trust.
You mention something to someone in your inner circle. It seemed harmless enough to mention. After all, you trust that person not to blab to the whole world about it, right?.
Well here’s the thing… That other person might not have the same level of OPSEC or concern about that particular nugget of information as you do. That info might inadvertently come out during another ‘harmless’ secondary conversation with someone else from THEIR OWN circle of friends.
So now that information has been revealed outside your immediate circle. Even if that person who is within the second ring of people is not a blabbermouth, – that person might not realize the OPSEC value of the nugget of information that was casually revealed to them. And then that person might inadvertently (or on purpose?) reveal that information within THEIR OWN own circle (which would now make it three levels away from you).
All it takes is one person to potentially take advantage of that information to ‘ruin your day’ so to speak.
This seems very vague and broad but this is how information can spread even unintentionally. So how do you function in life with the sword hanging over your head every day? The answer is, “Need to know.” Who needs to know your personal, private life? I’m not saying to be paranoid like me, (tongue in cheek) but rather there are things only you and your family needs to know. Think about you’re about to say, and more importantly, WHO you are saying it to.
We live in troubled times. Things seem to be fluid about what society accepts and what others think. To be preparedness minded, or self-sufficiency minded, or even security minded are viewed by many as “extreme”. Politics, your feelings about social issues and even religion are being scrutinized, criticized, and demonized. The security of your family and you personally can change in an instant. Being aware of this and using OPSEC can keep prying eyes, and those “Karens” out of your life and away from you and your family’s business. Be careful out there.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
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