ALCOAST 081/25 - FEB 2025 CRITICAL INFORMATION LISTS (CIL) AND ANNUAL REPORT OF OPERATIONS SECURITY (OPSEC) ACTIVITIES

R 241301Z FEB 25   MID120001755345U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 081/25
SSIC 3070
SUBJ: CRITICAL INFORMATION LISTS (CIL) AND ANNUAL REPORT OF
OPERATIONS SECURITY (OPSEC) ACTIVITIES
A. Coast Guard Operations Security (OPSEC) Program Manual,
COMDTINST M5510.24A
B. National Security Presidential Memorandum-28, The National
Operations Security Program
C. Operations Security Program, DHS Instruction 121-01-019
D. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 191355Z DEC 24/ALCOAST 472/24
E. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 171228Z JAN 24/ALCOAST 016/24
1. The Chief Security Officer (DCMS-34) stresses the importance
that members of the Coast Guard community incorporate Operations
Security (OPSEC) principles in their daily professional and personal
activities. CG missions often require time-sensitive interactions
with the public, which can mean sharing information as rapidly as
possible. As we engage in any rapid communication with the public,
we must strike a balance to ensure our commitment to the safety of
the CG community and the successful planning and execution of CG
missions. All Commands should review policies and procedures to
ensure that recognized critical information is always protected.
2. Recognizing Critical Information is the first step in the OPSEC
Cycle. A recent incident regarding the compromise of a commercial
cellular telephone network highlights the importance to both
recognize Critical Information and ensure it is protected by all
Coast Guard members. It is equally important for Coast Guard members
to maintain a keen awareness of Critical Information identified at
their unit level. The OPSEC Critical Information List (CIL) is an
essential part of our strategic defensive posture. Having a CIL at
the unit level provides clear guidance to both current and
onboarding members, including new recruits, on details that must
be protected, remaining behind our IT firewalls and off the open
internet. The CIL provides that guidance to all members of the
Coast Guard community, regardless of their background and/or
training.
3. The Coast Guard CIL, Enclosure 2 to REF (A), provides a general
overview of Critical Information from an Enterprise perspective.
This product resides on the DCMS-34 SharePoint site, OPSEC page.
The Coast Guard CIL provides an organizational-level perspective
to units as they develop their own CILs. As promulgated in REF (D),
all units shall develop and maintain a Critical Information List
(CIL) relevant to their specific mission sets. Guidance for
development of the OPSEC CIL can also be found on the DCMS-34
SharePoint site, OPSEC page. NOTE: For small subordinate units,
their respective higher headquarters shall provide guidance and
expectations for Critical Information which can be localized at
the individual unit level.
4. The Coast Guard has established an annual reporting requirement
each January with REF (E) to identify strengths and opportunities
within the Coast Guard OPSEC Program. All units are required to
respond. This ALCOAST establishes the January 2025 schedule for
collection of data supporting our mandated Coast Guard Annual
OPSEC Report. Resulting data will be used to respond to National
OPSEC Program REF (B) and DHS REF (C) reporting requirements.
This data will also be used with other assessment tools to establish
overall OPSEC profiles at the District, Area, and Enterprise levels,
supporting risk-based decisions and prioritization of resources.
Finally, information gathered will be used to establish overall
training needs, trends, and provide essential data that will be
used in development of mitigation strategies for potential
vulnerabilities.
5. A link is provided below for unit OPSEC Coordinators or other
designated OPSEC personnel to respond. The link is also posted on
the DCMS-34 SharePoint site, OPSEC page. OPSEC questions?
Email OPSEC@uscg.mil.
a. 2025 collection dates: January 14 - February 28
Link to 2025 Annual OPSEC Reporting Form:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://surveys.uscg.mil/Community/se/6F20F77454707041

Link to DCMS-34 OPSEC Program SharePoint site:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

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

6. POC: DCMS-34 OPSEC Program Manager Karen J Newhouse,
(202) 372-3706, Karen.J.Newhouse@uscg.mil
7. Mr. Albert Curry, Jr., Deputy for Materiel Readiness
(DCMS-DMR), sends.
8. Internet release is authorized.