ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE
 
ROUTINE       
 
R 112340Z DEC 01 ZYB MIN PSN 059761J28
 
FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC//SN//
 
TO ALNAV
 
UNCLAS
ALNAV 114/01
 
MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV//
 
SUBJ/OPERATIONS SECURITY//
 
RMKS/1.  I RECENTLY VISITED OUR NAVAL UNITS FORWARD DEPLOYED IN
SUPPORT OF OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, AND AM SO DEEPLY PROUD OF THE
PROFESSIONALISM AND DEDICATION OF OUR NAVY AND MARINE CORPS TEAM
OPERATING ON THE TIP OF THE SPEAR IN OUR WAR AGAINST TERRORISM.
THESE MEN AND WOMEN ARE PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE TO PROTECT
THE FREEDOMS THAT ALL OF US HOLD SO DEAR.  WHILE THEY ARE DOING
THEIR PART, ALL OF US, THROUGHOUT THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS, AT HOME
AND ABROAD, ALSO WILL CONTINUE TO DO OUR PART TO ENSURE THE SAFETY
AND SECURITY OF THOSE SAILORS AND MARINES, AS WELL AS THOSE
THROUGHOUT OUR SERVICES.  WE CAN BEST DO THAT BY MAINTAINING
OPERATIONAL SECURITY (OPSEC).
 
2. FOLLOWING THE TERRORIST ATTACK ON 11 SEPTEMBER, THE PRESIDENT
 
DECLARED A NATIONAL EMERGENCY.  SECRETARY OF DEFENSE DONALD RUMSFELD
HAS CAUTIONED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING OPSEC AS DOD AND THE
NAVAL FORCES TAKE PART IN THE WORLD-WIDE EFFORT TO DEFEAT
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM.  PROPERLY UNDERSTOOD AND APPLIED, OPSEC
KEEPS VITAL INFORMATION ON OUR CAPABILITIES AND INTENTIONS FROM AN
ADVERSARY, AND CAN HELP FORCE THEM TO MAKE BAD DECISIONS.  OPSEC
FAILURES CAN PLACE OUR PEOPLE, OUR MISSION, AND EVEN OUR NATION AT
RISK.
 
3. OPSEC IS AN ALL HANDS RESPONSIBILITY.  EACH OF US MUST LOOK AT
HIS OR HER OWN BEHAVIOR.  HERE ARE A FEW BASIC SUGGESTIONS: EXERCISE
CAUTION WHEN DISCUSSING WORK, PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO WHERE YOU
ARE AND WHO MAY BE LISTENING. TAKE CARE WHEN TALKING ON THE PHONE OR
USING COMPUTER SYSTEMS.  REMEMBER THAT EVEN SEEMINGLY BENIGN EMAIL
CAN BE USED BY POTENTIAL ADVERSARIES TO TARGET OUR PEOPLE.  ONLY
DISCUSS CLASSIFIED INFORMATION IN AUTHORIZED SPACES WITH THOSE
HAVING BOTH THE PROPER SECURITY CLEARANCE AND NEED TO KNOW.  I COULD
ADD MANY MORE BUT I THINK YOU GET THE IDEA.
 
4.  AS WE ADJUST TO LIFE IN THIS NEW ERA, I'VE ASKED THE CHIEF OF
NAVAL OPERATIONS AND THE COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS TO ENSURE WE
ALL REVIEW OUR OPSEC GUIDING PRINCIPLES, INSTRUCTIONS, TRAINING AND
PRACTICES.  COMMANDS AT EVERY LEVEL OF THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS
SHOULD REVIEW THEIR OPSEC PROGRAMS.  WE MUST ENSURE WE ALL COMPLY
WITH THE APPROPRIATE DOD AND SERVICE SECURITY INSTRUCTIONS.  TALK
ABOUT OPSEC WITHIN YOUR COMMAND.  ACTING TOGETHER WE CAN DENY TO OUR
ADVERSARIES INFORMATION THEY COULD USE TO PLAN OR CONDUCT TERRORIST
OR RELATED HOSTILE OPERATIONS AGAINST US.
 
5.  REMEMBER TO THINK OPSEC AS YOU KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK YOU ARE
DOING IN SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY.
 
6.  RELEASED BY THE HONORABLE GORDON R. ENGLAND, SECRETARY OF THE
NAVY.//
 
BT