CHAPTER I

GENERAL

1. Policy. Policy for joint OPSEC is established by CJCS Instruction 3213.01. Reference should be made to that document for information concerning responsibilities relating to joint OPSEC and for requirements for establishing joint OPSEC programs.

2. Definition. OPSEC is a process of identifying critical information and subsequently analyzing friendly actions attendant to military operations and other activities to:

  1. Identify those actions that can be observed by adversary intelligence systems.

  2. Determine indicators adversary intelligence systems might obtain that could be interpreted or pieced together to derive critical information in time to be useful to adversaries.

  3. Select and execute measures that eliminate or reduce to an acceptable level the vulnerabilities of friendly actions to adversary exploitation.

3. Characteristics of OPSEC

  1. OPSEC's most important characteristic is that it is a process. OPSEC is not a collection of specific rules and instructions that can be applied to every operation. It is a methodology that can be applied to any operation or activity for the purpose of denying critical information to an adversary.

  2. Unlike security programs that seek to protect classified information, OPSEC is concerned with identifying, controlling, and protecting the generally unclassified evidence that is associated with sensitive operations and activities. OPSEC and security programs must be closely coordinated to ensure that all aspects of sensitive operations are protected.

  3. OPSEC acknowledges that commanders must be prepared to assume some degree of risk when choosing whether or not to execute OPSEC measures. OPSEC measures will, in most cases, entail the expenditure of resources. In choosing to execute particular OPSEC measures, commanders must decide that the assumed gain in secrecy outweighs the costs in resources. If commanders decide not to execute certain measures because the costs outweigh the gain, then they are assuming risks. The OPSEC process requires that decisionmakers directly address how much risk they are willing to assume.

4. OPSEC Survey. An OPSEC survey is an intensive application of the OPSEC process to an existing operation or activity by a multi- disciplined team of experts. Surveys are essential for identifying requirements for additional measures and for making necessary changes in existing measures. Appendix E describes the procedures for conducting OPSEC surveys.

5. OPSEC and Command and Control Warfare

  1. Command and control warfare (C2W) is the military strategy that seeks to deny the adversary the effective use of its command and control (C2) capabilities while at the same time protecting friendly C2 capabilities. C2W integrates the use of OPSEC, military deception, psychological operations (PSYOP), electronic warfare (EW), and physical destruction.

  2. OPSEC's primary role in C2W is denying adversaries the critical information concerning friendly intentions and capabilities that they need for effective decisionmaking. Deprived of the foreknowledge of US actions, adversary leaders cannot, with any degree of certainty, make the decisions that would enable their forces to effectively counter the actions of US forces.

  3. OPSEC's other role in C2W is providing support to the other C2W elements. It hides the real, while deception portrays the false. It protects physical destruction assets from discovery and attack. It helps in preventing adversaries from finding out the technical characteristics of friendly EW equipment. OPSEC can be used to protect sensitive PSYOP activities.

  4. In turn, the other elements of C2W can be employed in support of OPSEC. Deception and PSYOP can be used to provide plausible cover stories for activities that cannot be hidden from adversary observation. Physical destruction assets can be used to attack and reduce the adversary's intelligence collection capabilities. EW can prevent or disrupt the flow of information within the adversary's intelligence system.

6. OPSEC and Public Affairs. Planning and executing OPSEC measures require close coordination with public affairs officers (PAOs). As appropriate, but particularly during military operations other than war, OPSEC program personnel and operational planners should consult with PAOs to anticipate and plan for the potential impact of media activities in the area of operations.
12-20-1996; 16:55:52