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Whoever names operations must be sensitive to the naming of the missions and objectives. I just read about how the operation launched on Bin Laden's compound was or was not officially Operations Geronimo, but possibly changed before or after the event to Operation Neptune Spear with Bin Laden being Jackpot and his kill or capture was Geronimo. This brings up two points: 1. you must be sensitive of how the names can be perceived and 2. OPSEC, we should never know the names of these operations if we were not in them.
Thoughts? Any other examples of mission names that may not have been sensitive or that should have never been leaked?
Thoughts? Any other examples of mission names that may not have been sensitive or that should have never been leaked?
Posted in these groups: 
OPSEC
OPSEC
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 9
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For the Strategic level and certain SOF units, it is mandated through a formal system you have to comply with. At the beginning of the year in certain headquarters you get those parameters and create a list much like naming hurricanes and submit them for approval. Once approved you use them as operations occur. At the Operational and Tactical levels typically the same thing occurs on a much more informal level, but the SECDEF doesn't have to approve them! We could talk much more detail as to how this occurs but I wont' for OPSEC's sake, because some of it is sensitive. And as CW5 Baker stated, sometimes the names are carefully chosen to pass the media headline test.
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SGT Mark Sullivan
I was part of a JLOT's Operations on Camp Lejuene, called "Ocean Venture," we called it "Nothing Ventured" It was the biggest waste of resources I have ever witnessed
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CW5 Sam R. Baker
Substitutions are authorized, but not for public consumption and knowledge SSG John Erny and SGT Mark Sullivan usually. Most CSMs and commanders get rather perturbed when their missions are coded by the troops in such a way as to bring humor and laughter to an otherwise stressful situation. You are right though, I can think of a few myself.
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SGT Mark Sullivan
Most CSM's that serve next to their troops, instead of above them would find humor, and would appreciate that humor. If anyone in a leadership position is that uptight about the soldiery coding a mission name to bring humor and laughter is regarded as disrespect, then that person needs to re-evaluate their position. Humor and laughter are a Large Part of being a soldier, it's how people deal with stressful situations. As an example, lets look at Gen McCauliff, and his response to the German commander at Bastogne, LOL
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Absolutely, when I was part of OEF I back in 2002 the joint operations with the Canadians was a "take your turn" at naming operations. After OPERATION ANACONDA, there was a mission for the Canadians to take lead and search for Osama in the mountains, it was OPERATION BLACK DEVIL. However, as the mission neared, the name was changed due to the sound of the mission for the sake of the media to place BLACK DEVIL in the paper. It was changed.
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