OPSEC
Military abbreviation · Military Term
| Stands for | Operations security |
|---|---|
| Categories | Military |
OPSEC stands for Operations security, a military term abbreviation.
Process for protecting unclassified but sensitive information, such as deployment dates, troop movements and routines, that adversaries could piece together to harm missions or people.
Example: For OPSEC reasons, don't post the ship's return date on social media.
Usage notes
The formal OPSEC process dates to a 1966 study code-named Purple Dragon, which found that North Vietnam was anticipating US bombing raids from unclassified indicators. Its spirit echoes World War II slogans such as "Loose lips sink ships." Military families receive OPSEC training because social media posts can reveal patterns. Pronounced "OP-sec."
Related abbreviations
More military term abbreviations
- OND – Operation New Dawn
- OOD – Officer of the deck
- OP – Observation post
- OPCON – Operational control
- OPLAN – Operation plan
- OPORD – Operation order
- OPTEMPO – Operational tempo
- OSINT – Open-source intelligence
- OSUT – One Station Unit Training
- OTH – Other than honorable
- OTS – Officer Training School
- PCS – Permanent change of station