What does "operational security" (OPSEC) aim to achieve?

Operational security (OPSEC) focuses specifically on protecting sensitive information from adversaries to ensure that tactical and strategic advantages are maintained. The primary goal of OPSEC is to identify and safeguard information that, if disclosed, could jeopardize operations or lead to an advantage for the enemy. This involves analyzing actions, communications, and data that might unintentionally reveal critical information about plans, capabilities, or vulnerabilities.

Through effective OPSEC measures, military organizations can minimize the risk of enemy discovery and exploit potential weaknesses. By controlling what information is shared and how it is communicated, forces can enhance mission success and safeguard operational integrity.

In contrast, enhancing combat readiness, facilitating troop mobility, and improving equipment maintenance may be important aspects of military effectiveness, but they do not specifically address the safeguarding of sensitive information, which is the core focus of operational security. Each of these aspects plays its role in military operations but is not directly aligned with the fundamental purpose of OPSEC.