FORT POLK, La. " When you talk, text or type, does how much information you give other people ever make you think twice? Probably not, and that’s part of the problem as far as Faye Smith is concerned.
Smith is the operations security program manager for Fort Polk. She said it’s an Installation Management Command position that allows her to work with units, Family members and contractors to oversee the establishment and training of OPSEC programs post wide. Much of what she does encompasses networking and communicating with other people on post. “It’s an interesting job. I get to talk to a wide variety of people and I like it,” said Smith.
Smith defines OPSEC as identifying critical information, then determining how to protect it and who to protect it from to ensure mission success. OPSEC maintains the element of surprise in any situation and keeps the enemy guessing. For ease of understanding, OPSEC condenses its safety information into a five-step principle. No matter what people are trying to protect, whether it’s military operations or Family information, the steps are:
•Identify critical information
•Analyze the threat
•Analyze vulnerabilities
•Assess risk
•Apply countermeasures
Smith said it gets more complicated later on, but if people stick to those five steps they are in good shape.
She said OPSEC training is mandated by Army Regulation 530-1 and that military installations, such as Fort Polk, are tasked with the mission of national security. Smith said she helps train OPSEC officers at the battalion level and above for units, which are required to have an OPSEC officer. Fort Polk currently has more than 45 trained OPSEC officers in units and directorates. “The training is good for commanders to have because they are the ones that assume the risk for the unit. If a commander doesn’t have a good program, he could end up paying the consequences,” said Smith.
Smith also briefs units to focus on operations security from the deployment standpoint. “I explain what Soldiers can do when they get in country. They need to know that they are going into an environment where they are going to get a threat briefing.” Smith said operations security is a key part of the process when Soldiers receive their orders because if they don’t make OPSEC an initial part of the planning phase, by the time they get ready to execute, they’ve given away important information. “There is no element of surprise if you don’t allow for operation security and make a plan to protect your information. That’s just part of the military process,” said Smith.
She said OPSEC could also be used in a Family environment by putting operations safety on a level and perspective that spouses and children can understand. “I get good feedback and participation from Family Readiness Groups. I try to help them understand what information is critical to protect " personal information like credit cards and their Social Security number. I also tell them to watch webpages, blogs and Family Readiness Group newsletters,” said Smith. “Family Readiness Support Assistants have to have the training too. They have to be briefed on operations security on a regular basis.”
OPSEC is also part of civilian birth month training on post. “The instruction is geared to their jobs at Fort Polk. Its purpose is to make them stop and think about what comes across their desk, phone lines and computer screens. This helps them identify information as critical or not, what to do with it and how to protect it,” said Smith.
Smith said people need to be aware of the information they are putting out in public. “The details don’t have to be specific. Generalize information and make sure it goes out on a need-to-know basis. It’s kind of involved, but you try to find the vulnerabilities associated with any given technology, social media or operation and pinpoint ways to correct them so you don’t compromise your information,” said Smith.
“It’s a mind-set you have to have. People are too trusting. They don’t think about the information they put out. You don’t want to look for bad guys around every corner because if you live in fear, they have won, but you don’t have to be so forthcoming either,” said Smith. “It’s important to be aware and cautious.”
Smith said the give and take when it comes to funding for programs and training can be the hardest part of her job. Being creative can also be a challenge. “I might say to an organization, ‘If you fund this training, I’ll do all the legwork and coordination.’ In return, I give them however many seats they need to the train the people from their program in the class. So, for the cost of bringing a person to Fort Polk for the certification training, they get their people trained in a cost effective way, and other people get trained as well,” said Smith.
It’s this kind of innovative and creative use of resources that brought her to the attention of the annual Army OPSEC achievement awards program. This is an organization that recognizes significant accomplishments by organizations and individuals in operations security each year. Organizations have to submit nominees for the awards and Fort Polk’s Directorate of Plans, Training and Mobilization submitted Smith for the national OPSEC award for the Army-wide competition at the Department of the Army level. She came in third and was very happy. Smith said, “OPSEC is really everyone’s job, but I’m so pleased that I won.”
For more information about OPSEC training call 531-9437.
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