January 22nd - that’s the day folks.

As the anniversary of the day President Reagan (Saint Ron) signed National Security Decision Directive Number 298 into being I can’t wait to celebrate National OPSEC Day…is what I would be saying if, in fact, there were such an anniversary. Well ok, for arguments sake I guess any day that something happened would be followed annually by an anniversary but I’m not talking about just any day. No sir and no ma’am. I’m talking about a commemorative anniversary. One that celebrates all that is encompassed by the signing of this important document.

Those of you who have read one or two of my missives in this blog may be wondering just what type of tomfoolery I’m up to now but let me assure you that I am rather serious about this.

And so I ask you; why not a National OPSEC Day?

Aside from our formal holidays most “National Days” are there to commemorate but also - and perhaps more significantly - to raise awareness about a specific subject. Here are but a few examples: Family Literacy Day - America Recycles Day - World Aids Day - Human Rights Day.
And that’s a very, very, very small sample of “National Days”.

Also understand that many things are so important they merit a whole month: National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month - National Autism Awareness Month - National Child Abuse Prevention Month - Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. All very good months to be sure and again, a very, very small sampling.

On the other end of the scale we have literally hundreds of other “National Days” that are just plain ridiculous: Run It Up the Flagpole and See if Anybody Salutes It Day - Old Rock Day - National Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friend Day - Blame Someone Else Day - National Answer Your Cat’s Question Day. And those are all contained in January - and that ain’t all of them.

With this in mind how hard could it be to create a National OPSEC Day? Actually, quite hard indeed. A truly “National” day is literally an act of Congress and takes a lot of work. The first step is to contact your local congress person. Once you have their attention, you have to create the proposal and hopefully get it on the congressional agenda before too many years have passed. If you are intent on doing it and have the patience, it can be done. I’m afraid I don’t have the time or resources to mount such an effort.

We, as a group though, just might. And quit waiting for a punch line - there isn’t one coming.

I do OPSEC for a living. I think it’s important enough to dedicate my golden years doing OPSEC and hopefully (on some level) making OPSEC something better today than it was yesterday. And I know for a fact that there are hundreds (thousands?) of you out there doing the same as I am. I would name names of those I think are really contributing to the OPSEC profession but that would appear that I am calling them out as opposed to proving to you that I’m not the only one out here that respects OPSEC and works hard at it.

So what is next? I have no idea. I didn’t write this as someone trying to rally the troops around me and this idea. No - I just wanted to plant the seed and tell you that I think a National OPSEC Day would actually be a good idea.

The question now is - who will step up and try to make OPSEC a little better today than it was yesterday?

Keep the Faith
Revelator