Ladies and Gentlemen I’ve been getting lazy lately. Sorry about not updating more often. As the National OPSEC Conference in about a month away I suspect I’ll become more and more inspired. Until then I wanted to share something that the President of OSPA shared with the membership. Enjoy…

“So what’s so important about OPSEC, anyways?”

You may have heard that more than once. Some of you tell me that you hear it nearly every day. Those of you that are receiving this already know the answer- that’s why you’ve signed up to this mailing list. Some of you have even seen it firsthand.

We all know the story- about the Vietnam Purple Dragon Team, and how they determined the reason that the enemy was able to gain advance knowledge of missions and operations. On a higher level, OPSEC was developed to maintain mission secrecy and, thus, the advantage in combat. But to the individual soldier, it’s much more personal than that. OPSEC was there to save their lives and get them home again. To them, OPSEC was a way to help make sure that they wouldn’t die because of something that was simply beyond their control- be it their buddy with a big mouth or the letter home that was found in the trash.

OPSEC saves lives today. OPSEC is still there for the soldier as s/he is suiting up for a midnight raid. Or getting ready to jump (out of a perfectly good airplane, mind you) into hostile territory. OPSEC isn’t a box to check or a program to get out of the way- OPSEC is that almost ‘mystical’ thing that helps ensure that “our boys and girls” on the front lines are not put into harm’s way needlessly.

But, of course, today OPSEC goes much deeper than that. OPSEC is in every Government agency because it applies and helps ensure our overall safety as a Nation (and multiple Nations at that!). And, what’s more, OPSEC is gaining a foot hold in corporations, communities, and even families as a way to save lives and livelihoods- to preserve safety and profits alike. So the next time that someone asks you, “What’s so important about OPSEC, anyways?”, you can look them square in the eye and tell them, “Everything.”

Keep up the good fight.

Chris Cox
OSPA, President

“In My Life” - The Beatles