REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. - So you think you practice good security measures' You could be releasing classified information without realizing it, said Guy Hardman, a Federal Bureau of Investigations agent, while presenting annual SAEDA training to Soldiers and civilians here Feb. 18 at the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command.
"Who can be a spy' Anyone," claimed the former Army counterintelligence agent as he began the Subversion and Espionage Directed against the Army presentation and training.
"You have, no doubt at some time in your young life, asked friends to go to another person asking if so-and-so likes you," said Hardman. "That's spying."
Speaking to the audience, Hardman said, "So let's think like a spy. Where would you go to get information'" One person replied, "To a bar." Another answered with, "To a restaurant."
Hardman responded that the Redstone Rocket newspaper here advertises meetings, which are good places for espionage to take place.
"Foreign intelligence officers do show up at the space and missile defense conferences," he said. "They come undercover as journalists, scientists, engineers and the like, gathering business cards and names."
Those spies also remember faces and may send unsolicited letters at later dates via e-mail, said Hardman.
How good is operational security while Soldiers and federal employees relax'
"People at lunchtime often don't take off their badges when they leave their buildings and spies know those people will talk business," Hardman said. "Spies listen to conversations or go right up to the employee and ask outright 'what do you do''"
Take off your badge when leaving the work building and do not discuss work outside of the office, warned the Huntsville-based FBI agent.
"Knowledge is the hardest to protect from espionage and documents are the next hardest because of the technology of thumb drives," Hardman said. "Espionage knows no limits. Companies do it. Countries do it. Sometimes it's just a rogue person - maybe a naturalized person who got fired and sends secrets home to his birth country ... unsolicited information."
Hardman said Soldiers and federal civilians are always looked at by foreign intelligence specialists as a way to gain classified information. They aren't looking for people with strong values and good finances.
Intel agents are looking for people with financial hardships or those with a propensity for gambling, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, sexual behaviors outside of wedlock, or even "an ax to grind" against a federal employer.
Hardman said, "Such vulnerabilities make federal civilians and Soldiers the perfect soft target with security weaknesses."
So how do we recognize when a person may be practicing espionage' Some indicators are:
Aca,!Ac Strange work hours without justification
Aca,!Ac Undue affluence - well above grade/pay
Aca,!Ac Unauthorized document reproduction
Aca,!Ac Frequent trips out of town or the country
Aca,!Ac Drastic demeanor changes
Aca,!Ac Requests for security access beyond need to know
Hardman said Soldiers and federal civilians are at risk of being approached, therefore they must have training on what to recognize.
Be aware of your surroundings, he said, and take notice of who's asking questions and who is listening. Remain non-committal when asked to pass on any type of information and remember the details. Inform the command security manager or local military intelligence office, Hardman said.
When out of the city, call the local FBI or dial 800-CALLSPY (225-5779). If in a foreign country, go to the local United States embassy and report the incident.
Finally, always be on the defense: detect, deter, disrupt.
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