Greetings!
We may not be able to get certainty, but we can get probability, and half a loaf is better than none.
-- C. S. Lewis
The only certainties in life is change and death. If we do not change we will stagnate and die. With this year being an election year, the year that gas prices went to almost $5 a gallon, and the beginning of what many are calling a depression, we have all experienced changes.
Whether the change is in the number of government contracts you have, staff turn-over, career change, or political change -- life continues. One question is will your facility continue to grow or will it take time out to retrench? Another question is will you need to realign your department or section to take advantage of this year's change? Or will you need to consider alternatives to the way your facility views security roles?
Review your options, realize that all markets, economies, and politics go through cycles, and be prepared for change -- even if it is just an approach from a different angle. |
| Tailored the training to the areas I needed and provided me with updated information. Awesome continuity book! Thanks for the great class!
Erin O'Connor
Peterson AFB, CO |
[V]ery knowledgeable and gave a good training session... a valuable resource for me in furthering my education.
Beverly Hartson
Reisterstown, MD |
| Security From Another Angle |
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Three weekends out of four, my husband, Dan, and I are weekend ranchers. This means we head down to Floresville and assist my mother to care for her fifteen (15) head of Watussi mix cattle. Part of our regular role is to check that the corral has water - especially if the tank is dry, the fences along the borders of the ranch are still in good shape or at least good enough to last until the next weekend, and that we are not missing any cows.  Our 29.62 acres of ranch is off a county road that happens to have a 90-degree turn right at our front gate. From 2006 until March of this year, we would receive a call from a neighbor regarding someone plowing through our fence on a regular basis. Practically every weekend we would have to fix 32 feet of fence on one side of the front gate or the other and sometimes the repairs were required 2-3 times in a single weekend. We would call the sheriff's department, file a report, and explain to the individuals (if caught) that either they would repair the fence or they would face charges and a bill for fence repair. The fence would be repaired, we would add reflectors, but the destruction of property continued. In February and March of this year, Dan decided to have the destruction-prone area rebuilt using old railroad ties, landscaping timbers, and cow panels instead of the usual 2-x-4s and regular barbwire fencing. He also added reflectors shaped as arrows indicating the upcoming turn from further up the road. The results were impressive. We obtained more souvenirs allowing us to locate the responsible parties much easier and resulting in less required repairs. Now we are able to focus on interior fencing issues like keeping the bull from traveling or protecting stored hay from greedy mouths. 
Physical security is one area of industrial security that is often touched on lightly. As Facility Security Officers (FSOs), we should be aware of our physical surroundings and of any possible or reoccurring vulnerabilities and how they relate to protection of classified information, protection of our facility, and even protection of management and coworkers. NISPOM Chapters 5 & 8 mention perimeter controls and the need to be aware of security-in-depth or layers of security. These chapters are often considered to only be important if you are a possessing facility or if you have a classified information system. Even if your facility is not possessing, you should be aware of its vulnerabilities and possible threats. Is your facility in a multi-tenant building with neighbors who might be foreign-owned? Is your facility in a remote area surrounded by undeveloped land? Do you know the specific vulnerabilities of your facility? Even if your role does not include this aspect of your facility's security, do you know who is responsible? Are your fences secure? Have you thought of alternative ways to ensure your facility's security - like Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)? |
| The [JPAS] class was outstanding - I really enjoyed the hands-on approach to the class. I would highly recommend this class and the instructor.
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| Updates & Reminders |
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DSS Website Updates:
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(11/21/08) Notice to cleared contractor Facilities Regarding Top Secret Investigations: More efficient to submit individuals for Top Secret if the individual requires a Top Secret than to initially request a Secret and then request a Top Secret.
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Attention DOD Security Services (Call) Center Customers: In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, the DoD Security Services (Call) Center will be closed on Thursday, November 27, 2008. Additionally, the Call Center will observe a holiday schedule on Wednesday, November 26, 2008 and Friday, November 28, 2008 and will close at 6:CPM EST on each day. Standard Call Center operations will resume at 6:00AM EST on December 1, 2008
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(11/19/2008) DSS Academy launches the online Original Classification Course: The target audience for this course is DoD military, civilian and contractor personnel who propose, prepare, develop, or facilitate original classification decisions. To access this course, go to the DSS Academy website and login to the Learning Management System (ENROL).
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(10/23/08) DSS Academy announces the release of the updated Self Inspection Handbook for NISP Contractors: Click here or visit the DSS Academy website.
JPAS Website Reminders:
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Ann did an excellent job answering all questions and making herself available to us.
Kristen Smith
San Antonio, TX |
| JPAS Q & A |
| Please feel free to email your questions or tips and techniques to ajsconsulting@earthlink.net.
Q. Is there required training for JPAS account holders?
A. Currently the only required training for JPAS account holders (or users of any government application or computer) is the Personally Identififiable Information (PII) training. JPAS training is recommended, but not currently required.
Q. Do I have to identify the customer when requesting an investigation?
A. Yes. Guidance on how to identify hour government customer when requesting an investigation was first issued by DSS in September 2007. This guidance was revised and reposted on the DSS website and the JPAS application tab of the DSS website in February 2008 and can be found here. The guidance includes a table of codes for identifying your customer with the contract number sponsoring the individual's investigation request. |
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Best money spent on consulting services in my career.
Current Customer | |
Thank you for reading my newsletter. If you know of someone who could benefit from the information shared, please pass it on. If you have a topic suggestion, or a how-to-question, please submit it to ajsconsulting@earthlink.net.
What I do best is assist you with solutions to difficult industrial security challenges. How may I assist you today?
Sincerely,
Ann J. Martick, ISP
AJ's Consulting
P.S. It's all right to have butterflies in your stomach. Just get them to fly in formation.
-- Rob Gilbert |
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| What I Do Best |
AJ's Consulting
17+ years experience in the Industrial Security arena.
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On-Demand JPAS & e-QIP Support
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On-Demand FSO Surrogate Support
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Industrial Security Training
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Customized Briefing Packages
Marketing
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Internal Newsletters
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External Newsletters
Call: (512) 650-4819 or email ajsconsulting@earthlink.net for a solution to your industrial security challenges. |
| Networking Opportunities |
Remember it is always who you know... |
NCMS Alamo/LoneStar Chapter Meeting
11:30-1:00 PM
Club Sonterra
San Antonio, TX
Speaker: Mr. Ralph Diaz, Special Agent in Charge, San Antonio, Tx, FBI
& White Elephant Exchange after the meeting.
RSVP to
Lunch: $21.00*
*Cash or check only |
Austin FSO Brown Bag
December 17, 2008
11:00-12:30 PM
1205 Sam Bass Road
Round Rock, TX
Topic: TBD
For more information
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NISPOM Compliance Reporting Responsibilities
11:00-11:45 CTZ
45-minute NISPOM Compliance Webinar! |
| Got JPAS Access Now What?
Update your subscriber profile to indicate an interest in webinars to receive future invitations. | |
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