ALCOAST 016/24 - JAN 2024 OPERATIONS SECURITY (OPSEC) AWARENESS MONTH

R 171228Z JAN 24   MID600117101455U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 016/24
SSIC 5500
SUBJ: OPERATIONS SECURITY (OPSEC) AWARENESS MONTH
A. National Security Presidential Memorandum-28, The National
Operations Security Program
B. Operations Security Program, DHS INSTRUCTION 121-01-019
C. Coast Guard Operations Security (OPSEC) Program Manual,
COMDTINST M5510.24A
D. Coast Guard External Affairs Manual, COMDTINST M5700.13A
1. In support of REFs (A) through (C), January has been declared
National OPSEC Awareness Month across the Federal Government. The
Chief Security Officer of the Coast Guard (DCMS-34) provides this
message to emphasize OPSEC Awareness in the context of the increased
elicitation of military members, civilian employees, and federal
contractors by external adversaries. Additionally, this message
establishes the requirement for unit OPSEC Coordinators or other
designated OPSEC personnel to complete an annual OPSEC activities
report.
2. The Coast Guard (CG) takes extraordinary measures to preserve our
ability to protect, defend, and save the American public. Regardless
of our position in the CG community, all personnel have a
duty to apply the OPSEC principles outlined in REF (C) in their
daily activities. These principles enable us to protect our critical
information in the dynamic threat environment in which we live
and operate. Unauthorized release of critical/sensitive information,
misinformation, and/or disinformation can be devastating to our
service and all CG members must guard against these risks.
     a. In accordance with REF (D), CG members may only release
information on behalf of the CG when acting in an official capacity
and when authorized by a competent authority. Releasing any
additional sensitive or restricted details to the public, including
speculation on capabilities or readiness is not authorized.
     b. Misinformation can compromise the Good Order and Discipline of
our service. All CG members must ensure they
remain up to date on current facts, policies and resources relevant
to daily conversations or discussions to avoid spreading incorrect
information.
     c. The dynamic threat environment we operate in put a spotlight
on the daily actions and activities of CG members. Bad actors may
leverage CG members' public profiles as an opportunity to spread
disinformation. CG members must be suspicious of others prompting
them for personal views on CG activities or providing
unsolicited information.
     d. Whether at work or in our private lives, we must always
protect our information and understand the strategic value of
mission-critical information. Members should raise questions and
concerns about CG matters through their chain of command.
Furthermore, members should avoid discussions on social media which
may inadvertently lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive
information.
     e. All CG members should review REF (C) to educate themselves on
reporting requirements to ensure we protect critical CG information.
Report any compromise of sensitive information to your cognizant
Security Manager and chain of command. Report suspicious
activity and/or attempts by external entities to solicit sensitive
information to your local/regional CG Counterintelligence Service
(CGCIS) Agent. Ensure family members are also aware of these
reporting requirements.
3. Finally, this message establishes the mandated requirement for
unit OPSEC Coordinators or other designated OPSEC personnel to
complete an annual OPSEC Report of Coast Guard activities.
Information from the annual report will be used to establish trends
and develop mitigation strategies for potential vulnerabilities.
The report will also be used by DCMS-34 to respond to National
OPSEC Program reporting requirements outlined in REFs (A) through
(C) and establish overall OPSEC profiles at the District, Area, and
Enterprise levels to support risk-based decisions and prioritization
of resources. Paragraph 3.a. and 3.b. provide access options for the
report, including a survey link or DCMS-34 OPSEC SharePoint site.
The 2024 report is required to be completed by 09 February 2024. If
you have a question regarding completion of the report or any
general OPSEC question, please contact the DCMS-34 team at
email: OPSEC@uscg.mil.
     a. Link to 2024 Annual OPSEC Activities Report (Open from
08 January to 09 February 2024):
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://surveys.uscg.mil/Community/se/6F20F77464FDA3EC

     b. Link to DCMS-34 OPSEC Program Sharepoint Site:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://uscg.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/dcms34/OPSEC

4. POC: CG OPSEC Program Manager Karen J Newhouse,
Karen.J.Newhouse@uscg.mil, (202) 372-3706.
5. Mr. Albert Curry, Jr., Chief Integrator for Mission Support
(CG-DCMS-CIMS), sends.
6. Internet release is authorized.