OPSEC is the acronym for operations security, an exercise that secures vital defense data from potential enemy units and whether this information can compromise own position hence leading to serious breaches in security.
Consequently, OPSEC establishes countermeasures to prevent such occurrences thus protecting vital US overseas or domestic operations and security. To guard against breaches of vital data, organizations regularly identify vital information, perform threat appraisals, conduct vulnerability studies, evaluate risks, and hence affect deterrents (American Chemistry Council, 2001).
Importance of Personal Accountability at the Scene of an Incident
The importance of individual responsibility is critical in enhancing the safety of the facilities and personnel. Operations Security Professional’s Association (OSPA), a security allied group, considers that everybody should be appraised or kept abreast with relevant information regarding security threats and response to safeguard not only themselves but also others.
Thus to enhance accountability in the event of a terrorist incident, the association offers free updated information and training on OPSEC for this purpose via its website (OSPA, 2011).
According to the Homeland Security Institute (HSI), public awareness ventures in conjunction with outreach presentations are critical in enhancing security breaches, reporting potential threats and identifying OPSEC lapses.
The constant threat of terrorist attacks calls for adequate preparation and response at the scene of an incident hence poor OPSEC mean that even poorly planned attacks can have devastating impact (McCleskey et al, 2007).
There is therefore an urgent need to train all personnel from the lowest to highest cadre on OPSEC hence keeping everyone updated and accountable for any possible terrorist actions always.
Nevertheless, locally community policing has also been found to be quite effective as the public actively participates in keeping their environment safe including sharing information locally and globally cooperation to foil potential attacks.
How OPSEC and Site Security Augment Personal Accountability
Buildings that house or leased by federal agencies are mandated to follow the Interagency Security Committee (ISC) Security Design Criteria. This essentially requires a risk assessment analysis for any possible ‘threat, vulnerability, and consequences’ based on a building’s design or security arrangement and accordingly effect countermeasures (Smith, Renfroe, & Joseph, 2011).
Most terrorist attacks employ some form of improvised explosives devices (IED). According to Vernon (2011), response to such attacks must be very tactical and necessitates cautionary measures hence must involve training own personnel.
Although there have been fewer attacks in US soil, when responding to IEDs attacks, the armed forces “5 Cs Rule” are applied:
- Confirm there is a gadget;
- Clear the vicinity;
- Cordon the site;
- Control all access; and
- Check neighborhood for any other contrivances.
The responses also call for “zones of control” measures: hot zone (contrivance is position); warm zone (the periphery); and cold zone (safe spot of integrated command) (Vernon, 2011).
By applying OPSEC and site security measures, personnel can enhance safety of all through careful observation of individual liability thus boost personal accountability. Military personnel, their family members and associates are urged to avoid posting of some critical information in seemingly harmless online forums as this may compromise security operations. Sharing information via private websites is therefore highly discouraged as potential enemies may breach it (MarineParents.com, 2003).
The U.S. Coast Guard Incident Management Handbook (IMH) established that eighty percent of all response models encompass similar values, measures and methods hence a common guideline is basically applicable universally (USCG, 2006).
OPSEC call for adequate on-site countermeasures in case of an accident or attack. A safety officer (SOFR) is therefore required to coordinate these measures to ensure personnel safety. Additionally the SOFR is mandated with formulating strategies in handling any hazardous and unsafe circumstances that may arise.
Personnel Authentication
OPSEC and site security necessitate constant personnel authentication to deter any possible breach by enemy cells (Maniscalco & Christen, 2011). The U.S. Coast Guard authentication OPSEC assign an Accountability Team charged with the logging in and out all personnel that board their crafts (USCG, 2006).
Personnel authentication offers a system for personnel control and accounting thus offset unauthorised access to sensitive buildings and sites. Some of the measures incorporated to deter unauthorised access and authenticate personnel include enhancing access controls.
This may encompass posting of the “No Trespassing” and “Authorized Access Only” signs, CCTV surveillance cameras, electronic access control, escorting visitors, controlling the loading and unloading areas, and natural surveillance reception (CIS, 2011).
Besides confining and controlling propagation of critical site data, OPSEC in an anti-terrorist environment entails cautious surveillance, certification, and appraisal of doubtful actions including intelligence gathering. There is therefore a need to always probe and evaluate propensity of any suspicious or questionable activities in collaboration with local law enforcement agencies.
References
American Chemistry Council. (2001). Site Security Guidelines for U.S. Chemical Industry. Hallcrest Systems, Inc.
CIS. (2011). Anti-Terrorism Officers (ATOs). Web.
Maniscalco, P. M., & Christen, H. T. (2011). Homeland Security: Principles and Practice of Terrorism Response. eTextbook: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
MarineParents.com. (2003). Operational Security: What is OPSEC? Web.
McCleskey, Edward, McCord, D., & Markey, J. (2007). Underlying Reasons for Success and Failure of Terrorist Attacks: Selected Case Studies. Arlington, VA: The Homeland Security Institute (HSI).
OSPA. (2011). The 2010 State of OSPEC Survey. The Operations Security Professional’s Association (OSPA). Web.
Smith, Nancy Renfroe, A., & Joseph L. (2011). Threat/Vulnerability Assessments and Risk Analysis. National Institute of Building Sciences. Web.
USCG. (2006). U.S. Coast Guard Incident Management Handbook. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Coast Guard/U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Vernon, A. (2011). Strategies for Surviving the IED Response. Fireengineering. Web.