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Loose
lips can still sink ships
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Media
savvy: Observing OPSEC, LCpl Colin Smart, 1CER, speaks to
Ray Martin during a live cross with Australian network television.
Photo by AS Phillip Cullinan
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By
Maj Grant King
QUESTION: What do you feed on a daily basis with no hope of being
able to satisfy its appetite? Answer: The media.
Facts, figures, quotes and anecdotes are essential ingredients a journalist
needs to write a story; what’s happening, where, when?
Questions are asked to provide a basic story that includes other information
that gives it some body, direction and balance.
There’s usually media interest in Defence on a day-to-day basis, but
that attention is multiplied manifold when the government announces
an overseas deployment.
What unit’s going, where, how many, when, for how long? And so it
goes. The problem is that providing that level of information often
breaches operational security (OPSEC).
The information that’s provided in all innocence could ultimately
have devastating consequences.
The other side still craves information (so do we, it’s called “intelligence”)
and one of the best sources is the media.
If you’re an opposition commander with knowledge of who’s coming,
how many, where and when they arrive, what they’re bringing with them
and their capabilities, would you consider that information during
your planning for any future ops?
Essential Elements of Friendly Information (EEFIs) are established
to deny the enemy certain information; more importantly they’re written
and issued to protect us.
Land Commander Maj-Gen Ken Gillespie said it was as important to be
aware of OPSEC at home as well as overseas.
“The answer to a seemingly innocent question has the potential to
compromise an entire operation. With the high tempo of the Army, it’s
a timely reminder for everyone to re-focus on OPSEC,” Maj-Gen Gillespie
said.
“We face an adaptive enemy that’s constantly learning and refining
its tactics, techniques and procedures and the denial of information
is one way to limit and restrict its knowledge base.
“Don’t be paranoid, just be conscious of what you say and to whom.”
Aware now of the media’s appetite for facts and figures and of its
desire to tell the story, there’s no need to adopt a defensive attitude.
Media engagement is an important part of communicating with the community
we serve.
The DI(G) Admin 08-1, Public Comment and Dissemination of Information
by Defence Members lists the three types of information that can be
provided to the media or the public.
Tier One relates to the Minister for Defence and CDF/Secretary and
includes announcements such as an overseas deployment and Defence
policy.
Tier Two involves the Service Chiefs and relates to information such
as personnel changes or a restructure within the Defence organisation.
Tier Three relates to information that can be approved at formation,
unit commander or director level and, as an example, would include
a CO’s interview with the local newspaper for a unit open day.
Believe it or not the media’s not the enemy; in most cases it’s on
side.
Be friendly and accommodating, know your left and right of arc and
understand what you can and can’t talk about.
If you’re in any doubt, ask, but do |
