U.S. Navy OPSEC

The OPSEC Process

Identify Critical Information
Information about friendly (U.S., allied, and/or coalition) activities, intentions, capabilities, or limitations an adversary seeks in order to gain a military, political, diplomatic, economic, or technological advantage. Simply put, any information that the “bad guy” wants and needs to do us harm or allows them to gain an advantage over us.
Identify Threats
A person, or group of people, whose objective differs with the friendly objective.
Identify Vulnerabilities
A weakness that the adversary can exploit.
Assess Risk
A measure of the potential degree to which protected information is subject to loss through adversary exploitation. Basically, this is the likelihood your information will be collected and acted on.
Apply Countermeasures
Anything that effectively negates or mitigates an adversary’s ability to exploit vulnerabilities.

Governing Documents

Program Manager/Officer

FAQs

What is the policy on disclosing a ship’s movement?
Generally, ships cannot disclose specific information on friendly force troop movement or size tactical deployments, and dispositions that would jeopardize OPSEC or lives. This would include unit designations and names of operations.

Information on any ongoing or future operations to include details of specific combat missions, bomb damage assessments, force movements, employment schedules, and current location of underway units (i.e. latitude and longitude) is considered confidential and can only be released to authorized individuals.
Who do I contact if I believe I might be a victim of phishing?
Contact your local information assurance manager and describe the suspected phishing event to them. Do not forward any phishing emails.
I’ve been assigned as my command’s OPSEC program manager, what next?
Service members who are assigned as an OPSEC program manager should attend the two-day OPSEC course offered by the Naval OPSEC Support Team. This course outlines all requirements for an OPSEC program and covers what program managers need to do to be successful.
What is my critical information?
Critical information is different for everyone. Your critical information is that which you have determined is critical to the success of your mission at a given time and if it were to fall into the hands of an adversary, could be used to cause significant negative impacts to the accomplishment of your mission. Determining your critical information is vital to your success as an OPSEC practitioner.
When do I need to conduct OPSEC assessments?
There are two types of OPSEC assessments:
- Internal OPSEC assessments must be conducted annually by the OPSEC program manager
- External OPSEC assessments must be conducted once every three years by an outside entity (i.e. your ISIC or an OPSEC support element such as the NOST)

Downloadable Products

Posters

OPSEC Word Cloud Series - Version 1

OPSEC Word Cloud Series - Version 2

Identity Management

Briefs

Command Indoctrination Brief Template

Ombudsman_FRG (2021) Brief Template

OPSEC and Social Media (2021) Brief Template

Phishing (2021) Brief Template

USOPSEC 4.0 and IDM (2021) Brief

Wireless (2021) Brief Template

Get in Touch

Email: opsec@navy.mil
Phone: 757-203-3656
YouTube Channel:
youtube.com/USNOPSEC

The Naval OPSEC Support Team (NOST)

The Naval OPSEC Support Team was established in 2005 as the Navy’s OPSEC support capability, tasked with providing program development, planning, training, assessments and surveys, and operational support throughout the service. The team accomplishes its mission through certification training and supporting U.S Naval and Joint Forces worldwide via the OPSEC program manager course, a one-stop-shop website, and reach-back support email addresses at opsec@navy.mil and opsec@navy.smil.mil.

OPSEC COURSE
The Navy OPSEC Course certifies OPSEC officers and program managers. Courses are taught by certified instructors from Norfolk, Virginia and San Diego, California, and hosted world-wide in several fleet-concentrated areas.

Day 1: includes an introduction to OPSEC, theory and overview, identification of threat and critical information, analyzing vulnerabilities, assessing risk and applying countermeasures.
Day 2: includes operational exercises, standing up a program, conducting assessments, information operations integration, and OPSEC within social media.

To register for a course on the East Coast, Europe or in Middle East, please email opsec@navy.mil; to register for a course on the West Coast, Hawaii or in the Far East, please email IWTG_SDNI_QUOTAS@navy.mil. Provide full name, command and DoDID number when registering; a welcome letter will be included in the response.

To request an unscheduled or ad hoc course, please email opsec@navy.mil with proposed dates, location, justification and estimated cost for the traveler.

EAST COAST
EUROPE
MIDDLE EAST
WEST COAST
HAWAII
FAR EAST
ALL LOCATIONS

AUGUST 2021
17 – 18 Aug EWTG LANT Norfolk, VA
23 – 25 Aug Naval Submarine Base, Groton, CT

SEPTEMBER 2021
14 – 15 Sep EWTG LANT Norfolk, VA

OCTOBER 2021
5 – 6 Oct MCB Lejeune, NC
13 – 14 Oct EWTG LANT Norfolk
18 – 20 Oct SOAC Groton (CLOSED)
26 – 27 Oct NSA Annapolis, MD

NOVEMBER 2021
3 – 4 Nov EWTG LANT Norfolk
9 – 10 Nov NS Mayport, FL

DECEMBER 2021
7 – 8 Dec EWTG LANT Norfolk
13 – 15 Dec SOAC Groton (CLOSED)

JANUARY 2022
11 – 12 Jan EWTG LANT Norfolk
25 – 26 Jan NCBC Gulfport, MS
27 – 28 Jan Pensacola, FL

FEBRUARY 2022
8 – 9 Feb EWTG LANT Norfolk
28 Feb – 2 Mar SOAC Groton (CLOSED)

MARCH 2022
8 – 9 Mar EWTG LANT Norfolk

APRIL 2022
5 – 6 Apr EWTG LANT Norfolk
25 – 27 Apr SOAC Groton (CLOSED)

MAY 2022
3 – 4 May EWTG LANT Norfolk
24 – 25 May NS Mayport, FL

JUNE 2022
7 – 8 Jun EWTG LANT Norfolk
27 – 29 Jun SOAC Groton (CLOSED)

JULY 2022
12 – 13 Jul EWTG LANT Norfolk
19 – 20 Jul MCB Quantico, VA
26 – 27 Jul Groton, CT

AUGUST 2022
3 – 4 Aug EWTG LANT Norfolk
22 – 24 Aug SOAC Groton (CLOSED)

SEPTEMBER 2022
13 – 14 Sep EWTG LANT Norfolk

FEBRUARY 2022
15 – 16 Feb Rota, Spain

MARCH 2022
23 – 24 Mar NSA Bahrain

OCTOBER 2021
05 – 06 Oct NIWTG, San Diego, CA
19 – 20 Oct Port Hueneme, CA

DECEMBER 2021
07 – 08 Dec NIWTG, San Diego, CA

FEBRUARY 2022
01 – 02 Feb NIWTG, San Diego, CA

MARCH 2022
01 – 02 Mar        Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, CA

APRIL 2022
05 – 06 Apr NIWTG, San Diego, CA

JUNE 2022
07 – 08 Jun     NIWTG, San Diego, CA
14 – 15 Jun Navy Region Northwest

AUGUST 2022
02 – 03 Aug NIWTG, San Diego, CA

FEBRUARY 2022
08 – 09 Feb Training Support Detachment, Pearl Harbor, HI

MAY 2022
10 – 11 May Training Support Detachment, Pearl Harbor, HI

SEPTEMBER 2021
08 – 09 Sep Okinawa, Japan
14 – 15 Sep Training Support Detachment, Yokosuka, Japan

MARCH 2022
15 – 16 Mar Training Support Detachment, Yokosuka, Japan

JUNE 2022
22 – 23 Jun Naval Base Guam

SEPTEMBER 2022
14 – 15 Sep Okinawa, Japan
20 – 21 Sep Training Support Detachment, Yokosuka, Japan

AUGUST 2021
17 – 18 Aug        EWTG LANT Norfolk, VA
23 – 25 Aug        Naval Submarine Base, Groton, CT

SEPTEMBER 2021
08 – 09 Sep         Okinawa, Japan
14 – 15 Sep         EWTG LANT Norfolk, VA
14 – 15 Sep         Training Support Detachment, Yokosuka, Japan

OCTOBER 2021
05 – 06 Oct         MCB Lejeune, NC
05 – 06 Oct NIWTG, San Diego, CA
13 – 14 Oct         EWTG LANT Norfolk, VA
18 – 20 Oct SOAC Groton (CLOSED)
19 – 20 Oct         Port Hueneme, CA
26 – 27 Oct NSA Annapolis, MD

NOVEMBER 2021
03 – 04 Nov        EWTG LANT Norfolk, VA
09 – 10 Nov        Naval Station, Mayport, FL

DECEMBER 2021
07 – 08 Dec         EWTG LANT Norfolk, VA
07 – 08 Dec    NIWTG, San Diego, CA
13 – 15 Dec         SOAC Groton (CLOSED)

JANUARY 2022
11 – 12 Jan EWTG LANT Norfolk, VA
25 – 26 Jan          NCBC Gulfport, MS
27 – 28 Jan   Pensacola, FL

FEBRUARY 2022
01 – 02 Feb NIWTG, San Diego, CA
08 – 09 Feb Training Support Detachment, Pearl Harbor, HI
08 – 09 Feb         EWTG LANT Norfolk, VA
15 – 16 Feb Rota, Spain
28 Feb – 02 Mar SOAC Groton (CLOSED)

MARCH 2022
01 – 02 Mar        Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, CA
08 – 09 Mar        EWTG LANT Norfolk, VA
15 – 16 Mar Training Support Detachment, Yokosuka, Japan
23 – 24 Mar   NSA Bahrain

APRIL 2022
05 – 06 Apr         EWTG LANT Norfolk, VA
05 – 06 Apr NIWTG, San Diego, CA
25 – 27 Apr         SOAC Groton (CLOSED)

MAY 2022
03 – 04 May       EWTG LANT Norfolk, VA
10 – 11 May Training Support Detachment, Pearl Harbor, HI
24 – 25 May NS Mayport, FL

JUNE 2022
07 – 08 Jun         EWTG LANT Norfolk, VA
07 – 08 Jun         NIWTG, San Diego, CA
14 – 15 Jun Navy Region Northwest
22 – 23 Jun         Naval Base Guam
27 – 29 Jun         SOAC Groton (CLOSED)

JULY 2022
12 – 13 Jul           EWTG LANT Norfolk, VA
19 – 20 Jul           MCB Quantico, VA
26 – 27 Jul Groton, CT

AUGUST 2022
02 – 03 Aug NIWTG, San Diego, CA
03 – 04 Aug        EWTG LANT Norfolk, VA
22 – 24 Aug        SOAC Groton (CLOSED)

SEPTEMBER 2022
13 – 14 Sep         EWTG LANT Norfolk, VA
14 – 15 Sep         Okinawa, Japan
20 – 21 Sep         Training Support Detachment, Yokosuka, Japan

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