Reference & AI

AFI 10-701

Air Force

OPERATIONS SECURITY (OPSEC)

Reviewed by Guilherme Correia, active-duty U.S. Air Force

AFI 10-701, "OPERATIONS SECURITY (OPSEC)", is a Department of the Air Force publication, dated July 24, 2019.

Published

July 24, 2019

OPR

AF/A3

Headquarters, Department of the Air Force

Official document

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AFI 10-701 — index record

NumberAFI 10-701
TitleOPERATIONS SECURITY (OPSEC)
PublishedJuly 24, 2019
Certified currentJuly 24, 2019
Office of primary responsibilityAF/A3
Issued byHeadquarters, Department of the Air Force
Status on the indexCurrent
Last index actionUpdateContact, June 15, 2022
Source indexAir Force e-Publishing
Index last readOctober 20, 2026

Copied from Air Force e-Publishing (index). The publication itself is the authority; this page does not summarize or interpret it. Verify the current edition on the index before acting.

From the publication itself

Text below is lifted mechanically from the official PDF (58 pages, read October 20, 2026) with no editing or interpretation. Quote the document, not this page.

Purpose, in the publication’s words

This publication implements Air Force Policy Directive (AFPD) 10-7, Air Force Information Operations, Department of Defense Directive 5205.02, DoD Operations Security (OPSEC) Program, Department of Defense Manual 5205.02-M, DoD Operations Security (OPSEC) Manual. It provides guidance and procedures on operations security (OPSEC) throughout the Air Force (AF). This AFI is consistent with the guidance in Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 8560.01, Communications Security (COMSEC) monitoring and Information Assurance (IA) Readiness Testing and AFPD 17-1, Information Dominance Governance and Management. It applies to individuals at all levels including, the Air Force Reserve (AFR), Air National Guard, civilian and contractor personnel except where noted otherwise. Ensure that all records created as a result of processes prescribed in this publication are maintained in accordance with Air Force Manual (AFMAN) 33-363, Management of Records and disposed of in accordance with

Summary of changes, as printed

This interim change revises AFI 10-701 by (1) deleting OPSEC working group requirements in paragraph 2.18 and 2.19, (2) adding OPSEC working group requirements to the roles and responsibilities of the commander/directors, OPSEC Program Manager and OPSEC Signature Manager in paragraphs 2.17, 2.20, 2.21 and 2.22, (3) adding OPSEC Signature Management responsibilities to paragraph 2.22, (4) revising mission-oriented training within paragraph 4.3, OPSEC program management assessments within paragraph 5.3.5 and Electronic System Security Assessments within paragraph 6.6 A margin bar (|) indicates newly revised material.

Contents

  1. Chapter 1—OPERATIONS SECURITY (OPSEC) OVERVIEWp. 6
  2. Chapter 2—ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIESp. 9
  3. Chapter 3—OPSEC PROCESSp. 24
  4. Chapter 4—OPSEC EDUCATION AND TRAININGp. 28
  5. Chapter 5—EVALUATING OPSECp. 33
  6. Chapter 6—ELECTRONIC SYSTEM SECURITY ASSESSMENT (ESSA)p. 41
  7. Chapter 7—OPSEC PLANNINGp. 47
  8. Chapter 8—OPSEC REQUIREMENTS WITHIN ACQUISITIONS AND CONTRACTINGp. 50
  9. Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 52
All 62 contents entries
  1. Chapter 1—OPERATIONS SECURITY (OPSEC) OVERVIEWp. 6
  2. 1.8. OPSEC is everyone’s responsibilityp. 8
  3. 1.9. To enhance the effectiveness and understanding of OPSEC:p. 8
  4. 1.11. Air Force OPSEC SharePoint Sitesp. 8
  5. Chapter 2—ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIESp. 9
  6. 2.1. Air Force Judge Advocate General (AF/JA)p. 9
  7. 2.2. The Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel & Services (AF/A1)p. 9
  8. 2.4. The Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations (AF/A3)p. 9
  9. 2.5. Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection (AF/A4)p. 10
  10. 2.6. Secretary of the Air Force Deputy Chief Information Officer (SAF/CN)p. 10
  11. 2.7. The Secretary of the Air Force, Office of Public Affairs (SAF/PA)p. 11
  12. 2.9. The Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force (SAF/AA)p. 11
  13. 2.10. The Secretary of the Air Force, Inspector General (SAF/IG)p. 11
  14. 2.11. The Office of the Secretary of the Air Force General Counsel (SAF/GC)p. 11
  15. 2.12. Secretary of the Air Force Chief Data Officer (SAF/CO)p. 12
  16. 2.13. Air Combat Command (ACC)p. 12
  17. 2.14. Air Force Materiel Commandp. 14
  18. 2.15. Air Education and Training Command (AETC)p. 14
  19. 2.16. Air Force Academyp. 14
  20. 2.17. Commanders/Directors at all levelsp. 14
  21. 2.18. Commanders at MAJCOMs, DRUs and Air Force Forces (AFFOR)p. 15
  22. 2.21. OPSEC Program Managers at MAJCOMs, DRUs and AFFORsp. 19
  23. 2.23. OPSEC Plannersp. 22
  24. 2.24. OPSEC Coordinators at all levelsp. 22
  25. 2.25. Responsible Contracting Officep. 23
  26. Chapter 3—OPSEC PROCESSp. 24
  27. 3.1. Generalp. 24
  28. 3.2. Identify Critical Information:p. 24
  29. 3.3. Analyze Threats:p. 25
  30. 3.4. Analyze Vulnerabilities:p. 25
  31. 3.5. Assess Risk:p. 26
  32. 3.6. Apply Countermeasures:p. 27
  33. 3.7. Signature Managementp. 27
  34. Chapter 4—OPSEC EDUCATION AND TRAININGp. 28
  35. 4.1. Generalp. 28
  36. 4.2. OPSEC Awareness Education:p. 28
  37. 4.3. Mission Oriented and Pre-Deployment OPSEC Awareness Education:p. 29
  38. 4.4. Air Force OPSEC Trainingp. 29
  39. Chapter 5—EVALUATING OPSECp. 33
  40. 5.1. Overviewp. 33
  41. 5.2. OPSEC Reviewsp. 34
  42. 5.3. Assessmentsp. 35
  43. 5.4. Air Force OPSEC Support Teamp. 39
  44. Chapter 6—ELECTRONIC SYSTEM SECURITY ASSESSMENT (ESSA)p. 41
  45. 6.1. Overviewp. 41
  46. 6.2. Purposep. 41
  47. 6.3. Monitoring Authorityp. 41
  48. 6.4. ESSA Request Prioritiesp. 42
  49. 6.5. Release of Monitoring Informationp. 42
  50. 6.6. ESSA Productsp. 44
  51. 6.7. Active Indicator Monitoring Productsp. 46
  52. 6.8. Other Productsp. 46
  53. Chapter 7—OPSEC PLANNINGp. 47
  54. 7.1. Generalp. 47
  55. 7.2. Incorporating OPSEC into Operational Planningp. 47
  56. 7.3. Incorporating OPSEC into Support Plansp. 48
  57. 7.4. Incorporating OPSEC into Exercise Planningp. 48
  58. Chapter 8—OPSEC REQUIREMENTS WITHIN ACQUISITIONS AND CONTRACTINGp. 50
  59. 8.1. Incorporating OPSEC into the Acquisitions and Contracting Processp. 50
  60. 8.2. Organizational Responsibilitiesp. 50
  61. 8.3. Document Reviewsp. 50
  62. Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 52

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Air Force index

REF: AFI 10-701, effective July 24, 2019

Air Force e-Publishing — AFI 10-701

This is an index record, not the publication. The official PDF is the authority; verify the current edition before acting.

Reviewed by Guilherme Correia · Military Toolkit editorial

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