{"id":34230,"date":"2018-03-13T20:32:25","date_gmt":"2018-03-13T20:32:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/03\/13\/air-force-on-new-secrecy-rules-think-like-the-enemy\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:00:47","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:00:47","slug":"air-force-on-new-secrecy-rules-think-like-the-enemy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2018\/03\/13\/air-force-on-new-secrecy-rules-think-like-the-enemy\/","title":{"rendered":"Air Force on new secrecy rules: ‘Think like the enemy’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Air Force plans to train its public affairs officers<\/a> to adopt a \u201cthink like the enemy\u201d mindset when deciding what information to release to the public under new secrecy rules, according to training slides leaked online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The slides, posted on the unofficial Air Force amn\/nco\/snco Facebook page<\/a>, describe a massive training effort and \u201ccultural change\u201d for everyone from basic trainees to senior leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a March 1 memo first reported by Defense News<\/a>, a sister publication to Air Force Times, the Air Force said the change and its increased focus on operational security is motivated by \u201cthe re-emergence of great power competition.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new public affairs guidance raised alarms from free press advocates and some former Air Force officials, who warned it could lead to a chilling effect limiting the public\u2019s ability to know what the military is doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Military Reporters and Editors released a statement Tuesday expressing its concerns, and warning that the ambiguous nature of the guidance could prompt officials to \u201cerr on the side of withholding information.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe respect the need for operational security,\u201d said John Donnelly, president of MRE and a reporter with Congressional Quarterly and Roll Call. \u201cThat\u2019s why there is classified information. We understand, too, that sometimes even unclassified information can convey important details to an enemy. But security must be balanced against the need to inform the public. \u2026 In a worse-case scenario, such guidance could be used to justify keeping out of public view data that may simply be embarrassing to the Air Force but that the U.S. citizenry needs to know.\u201d
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Briefing materials dated Feb. 28 note that \u201cthe information<\/a> we communicate publicly<\/a> is consumed, analyzed, and acted upon by our would-be adversaries. We must take a careful look at our information so we don\u2019t provide our adversaries a competitive advantage they may use against us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn the information age, we must be aware no information is local and any information released may find its way on to international platforms,\u201d the slides said, noting that adversaries could try to gain information through public speaking engagements, slides, written reports and academic papers, news releases and interviews, and social media sites.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Public affairs and subject matter experts should check for potential OPSEC violations before media interviews, public speaking engagements, or the release of written materials, the Feb. 28 slides said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Air Force public affairs officials at the Pentagon will train major command PAOs, who will then train wing PAOs about OPSEC considerations and the \u201cthink like the enemy\u201d mindset, the slides said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OPSEC training will be developed and made part of the usual accessions process, the slides said, as well as professional military education, and will be reinforced at the unit level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Feb. 28 slides note \u201cthis is a shift in the recent Air Force narrative.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t