Your Own Personal OPSEC

Auto Draft

During World War II, a notable concern was Operational Security, or OPSEC. The slogan on many posters was “loose lips sink ships” with a drawing of a US Ship sinking after being torpedoed by an enemy submarine. The thought behind the slogan was that what individuals inadvertently said or did would likely place our service members in harm’s way. Most agencies (local, state, federal) and departments (defense, energy, intelligence) continue to stress the protection of information so that they can limit risk. The same should be true for civilians as well. Many companies offer protection for Personally Identifiable Information (PII) for a fee. Magnetically protected and RFID-shielded wallets and purses are designed to protect the information strip (or chip) on credit, debit, and security access cards from being scanned by criminals. In today’s everchanging, security-threat environment, what “OPSEC” techniques are you utilizing?

The moment you exit your home, you are in public. That could mean you are being watched, or worse, targeted. Do you practice an adequate level of situational awareness? (see our previous blog post on this topic) Do you use your vehicle’s mirrors for more than backing up? Is your SUV covered with stickers that give out family/children’s names?(even cute stick figures can leak identity information), hobbies, neighborhood, possessions (my other car is a Porsche, I’d rather be Boating, etc)? All these things may cause a targeting response. These little bits of information left out in the open can create a personal security risk.

Additionally, when you exit your vehicle, are you “switched on”? Are you truly aware of everything happening around you? Do you keep your head up and your eyes moving? Is a trip to the bank to make a deposit just a normal part of your routine, or are you intentional about being extra vigilant? When you walk to and from your car, is your head down or are you actively scanning the environment? These questions, asked regularly, will help you become more aware, which will immediately improve your safety posture.

The criminal may be gathering pieces of information; where you live, what you drive, your comings and goings. Some may even go through the trash(consider a shedder)or even follow the package delivery drivers that leave boxes on your porch. We all hear of packages thieves—especially around the holiday season. Your job is to thwart the criminal’s likely moves. By understanding how they operate, and instituting countermoves to prevent access to you, your family, your information, and your belongings, you will be making yourself more safe and secure. As always, Slater Tactical Solutions and Firearms Legal Protection stand ready to assist you. Be Safe!

Click here to check out Gary Slater’s Website!

This content was provided by Gary Slater with Slater Tactical Solutions. We want to give a variety information from reputable sources with first hand experience on teaching their students valuable information. He gratefully shared this information with us to inform our members/potential members with useful topics. Shout out to Gary Slater!

Firearms Legal Protection provides uncapped legal defense for members who use a firearm (or any legal weapon) in self-defense or the defense of others. Unfortunately, when people use a weapon in self-defense they could be arrested, jailed, or face extensive legal costs. Firearms Legal Protection provides members with peace of mind in these difficult situations by covering all attorney fees and providing other benefits, including bail bond protection and incident scene clean-up. Firearms Legal Protection operates a 24-hour attorney-answered emergency hotline for members. All Firearms Legal Protection members receive legal protection against Red Flag laws, and are provided access to webinars, product discounts, and more. Protect yourself. We’ll Protect you.

The information given on this website is not legal advice. The information that may be posted in any format on this website is of a general nature and should not be construed in a person’s own situation as legal advice. If you so desire legal advice, please consult an attorney in a one-on-one setting to get legal advice that pertains to your unique circumstance.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest