OPERATIONAL SECURITY (OPSEC)
AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
ALCOAST 128/03
R 072231Z MAR 03
ALCOAST 128/03
COMDTNOTE 5728

SUBJ: OPERATIONAL SECURITY (OPSEC) AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS

A. COAST GUARD PUBLIC AFFAIRS MANUAL M5728.2D

1. DUE TO THE SENSITIVITY OF HOMELAND SECURITY OPERATIONS, WIDESPREAD
SPECULATION BY THE MEDIA WITH RESPECT TO MARITIME SECURITY MEASURES AND THE
NEED TO PROTECT OPERATIONAL SECURITY, THE FOLLOWING IS POLICY GUIDANCE.

2. CONTENT/RELEASE GUIDELINES:

A. IAW REF A, AREA AND DISTRICT PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICES AND
PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN ANY MEDIA INTERVIEWS WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW EXISTING PUBLIC
AFFAIRS GUIDELINES AND SPECIFICALLY WILL NOT ADDRESS:

(1) ANY SPECULATION ABOUT POSSIBLE THREAT SCENARIOS;
(2) DETAILS OF SECURITY MEASURES;
(3) TIMETABLES FOR ANY ADJUSTMENTS TO SECURITY LEVELS OR WHAT EVENTS WOULD CAUSE A
CHANGE IN SECURITY LEVELS OR PROCEDURES;
(4) ANY OTHER ISSUE THAT WOULD COMPROMISE OPERATIONAL SECURITY, AN OPERATIONAL
MISSION OR THE SAFETY OF COAST GUARD AND/OR OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT/EMERGENCY RESPONSE PERSONNEL.

B. ANY COAST GUARD PRESS RELEASE/STATEMENT/INTERVIEW REGARDING
NATIONAL HOMELAND SECURITY POLICIES, PLANS, MISSIONS, DHS PERSONNEL OR HAS
POTENTIAL NATIONAL IMPACT MUST BE CLEARED THROUGH DHS VIA AREA/DISTRICT PAOS AND G-IPA PRIOR TO RELEASE.

3. NATIONAL MEDIA:

FIELD UNITS WILL NOTIFY THEIR DISTRICT/AREA PAOS, AND DISTRICT/AREA PAOS
WILL NOTIFY G-IPA OF ANY REQUESTS FROM NATIONAL MEDIA AND OBTAIN APPROVAL
BEFORE PARTICIPATING IN ANY NATIONAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT. NATIONAL MEDIA
INCLUDES NETWORK BROADCAST NEWS, WIRE SERVICES, TIER-ONE PRINT MEDIA

I.E. PAPERS OF RECORD AND OUTLETS THAT ALSO RUN NATIONAL NEWS SERVICES SUCH AS

THE WASHINGTON POST, NY TIMES, LOS ANGELES TIMES, AND NATIONAL NEWS
MAGAZINES.
G-IPA WILL COORDINATE APPROVAL OF NATIONAL MEDIA REQUESTS WITH
DHS PUBLIC AFFAIRS. AREA/DISTRICT PAOS MUST BE INVOLVED IN MANAGING
NATIONAL MEDIA REQUESTS AND ASSIST UNITS, ESPECIALLY IF REQUESTS ARE DENIED OR
DELAYED.

4. LOCAL MEDIA:

FIELD UNITS WILL NOTIFY THEIR AREA/DISTRICT PAOS, AND AREA/DISTRICT PAOS
WILL NOTIFY G-IPA, OF ANY SIGNIFICANT LOCAL MEDIA REQUESTS (MAJOR FEATURE
STORIES, MULTI-PART SERIES REPORTS, ETC.) OR LOCAL COVERAGE OF POTENTIALLY
CONTROVERSIAL OR SENSITIVE TOPICS. APPROVAL FROM G-IPA AND DHS ARE NOT
REQUIRED PRIOR TO PARTICIPATING IN LOCAL STORIES. HOWEVER, IF IN DOUBT,
BRIEF THE SITUATION UP THE CHAIN OF COMMAND BEFORE COMMITTING TO THE
INTERVIEW.

5. AREA/DISTRICT PAOS WILL NOTIFY G-IPA, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, OF EMERGENT OR
EXTENSIVE LOCAL/REGIONAL COVERAGE OF DAY-TO-DAY EMERGENCY RESPONSE
OPERATIONS THAT MAY SPREAD TO NATIONAL "BREAKING NEWS" COVERAGE.

6. THE COAST GUARD HAS AN OUTSTANDING REPUTATION FOR BEING FRANK AND HONEST
WITH THE MEDIA. WE HAVE A GREAT STORY TO TELL AND WILL COOPERATE WITH THE
MEDIA WHENEVER POSSIBLE. HOWEVER, WE MUST ENSURE PROPER SECURITY CONTENT
AWARENESS AND HEADQUARTERS AND DHS APPROVAL/COORDINATION TO PROPERLY BALANCE
OUR RESPONSIBILITY OF INFORMING THE PUBLIC WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF
SAFEGUARDING OPSEC AND THE SAFETY AND WELL BEING OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.

7. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.

8. RELEASED BY: VADM T. J. BARRETT, VICE COMMANDANT.
BT