This year, we launched an awards program for FSOs. There were cash prizes, fun prizes and a certificate to show to DCSA. Here’s this year’s winners:

Most Improved FSO 2022
Phillip Sandgren, Northrop Grumman I Space Systems

BEST Security Awareness 2022
Jackie Wardell, FSO/ITPSO, STRATOLAUNCH

BEST FSO Security Hack
Andreas Buonamia, Security Consultant

With their permission, we will be sharing their ideas, their best practices, and their FSO “hacks” with you in future issues. They are an inspiration! Plan to participate in 2023!

What’s New for FSOs?

Security Reviews—back in person!

They are back! At some point this year, if you did not have an on-site security review in 2022, you probably should expect to see one scheduled in 2023.

The longest we have seen is an 8 month heads up and the shortest was 9 days. Most DCSA Reps fall in the 1-3 month notification category.

How to prepare?

1. Do your self-inspection! To quote a DCSA Field Chief, “It is an open book test!”
2. Meet with your team! Senior Management Officials are much more involved now. Prepare them!
3. Join FSO PRO Club! We have all sorts of tips and reminders!

NBIS – The system that will replace DISS!
Here is the checklist to make sure you are ready by January 9th!

For those of you who are full-time FSOs – boy, do you have job security these days! For those of you who do your FSO work in addition to high- priority tasks – well, we are here for you!

If you have questions or need more information about any of the 10 items below – please reach out to us. This is about experiencing GREAT success as an FSO. We like to think of this newsletter as a Tony Robbins-meets-adrenaline-shot for your program. So, let’s let old systems be forgot (but we still miss you eFCL!) and embrace a plan for an amazing new year.

The 23-Step Plan to an Extraordinary Year!

We are offering 23 steps for 2023 (see what we did there?) so you can be the FSO you want to be in 2023! It is not difficult, as long as you have the dedication, focus, correct tools, and of course – the FSO PRO team at your disposal!

Follow this path to begin the best FSO Year:

Feed Your Mind

1. Make an effort to review the DCSA website at least once a day. They just updated the web design for the website (fancy!) in addition to having lots of updates to keep you informed.
2. Take an opportunity to review things posted in the FSO Toolkits, CDSE trainings, and other items that are available to you that can used to benefit your security program… and they are all FREE for you to use.
3. Get the free resources that FSO PRO offers with each monthly newsletter or go to our web- site for free downloads. We are also happy to answer “what is this for?” types of questions.

If you need more – we have an “Ultimate FSO Planner” that comes FREE with your FSO PRO Membership- along with other timesaving tools, resources and FSO hacks!

Make a Strong Plan

4. Each year, FSO Pro offers a one-page FREE FSO Action Planner. Get yours today!
5. DCSA has also created an Annual Planning Tool with an emphasis for each month (we are not saying they copied our idea, but we are not NOT saying it. Haha!) Use both to plan out your:
6. Training – for you and personnel.
7. Themes for each month.
8. Logins and new account processes.
9. Meetings/Calls with your DCSA Rep and your CISA to help identify your critical assets.
10. Annual Requirements.

Do Your Worst First

11. Right as the year begins, take a huge step forward by doing what you like the least. We all have something that is difficult for various reasons,
12. Calling your DCSA Rep. (This isn’t the worst, but a lot are nervous to do it!)
13. Scheduling a “Security Awareness week” with a speaker via WebEX
14. Updating your DISS/NBIS training: PII and Cyber Challenge
15. Conducting specialized training.
16. Building your “Security Library” on a shared drive.
17. Logging into NISS, DISS, and SWFT on a regular basis and keeping them updated.

Take it from us – who got this from our Mum – you get a great energy surge and sense of victory if you spend January 2023 addressing all the tasks you are likely to procrastinate.

Strengthen Your Network

18. Make every effort to improve your communication with DCSA this year – this is a partnership and they need to hear from FSOs – especially with all the new systems. We have to move this forward together!
19. Go to the NCMS events (again—via Webex and “hubs”) and talk with other FSOs. You may find a great mentor!
20. Participate in FSO PROs polls, contests, and lobbying events on our Social Media – the subscriber list to this newsletter is growing each month—let’s share ideas!

Strengthen Your Body

Okay, this one is and isn’t something highlighted on the DCSA website, but it is equally important to stay healthy. A lot of the FSO work can be tedious and require long hours. Being a physically strong FSO supports all the massive action that we encourage you to take, increases focus, mental clarity, and helps maintain the energy you need. If this is going to be your best FSO year then:

21. Go on a walk. Eat foods with nutritional value. Take the vitamins recommended by Mum!

We also recommend Fandomfit.org because we are competitive nerds and like fitness plans that have team competitions and free prizes.

22. Update your FCL Profile in NISS! This is one of the main deficit areas during inspections!

Join The Club!

23. 23. Join the FSO PRO Members!
        You are busy and may not have time to figure something out quickly. Our membership saves FSOs time and energy as we:
        • Answer direct questions
        • Provide templates you request
        • Fingerprint support
        • Training videos
        • Provide updates the moment we receive it from DCSA

Thank You to all the FSOs out there who have joined the club and are taking the confusion out of their program! The more we grow, the more we are making things just for you such as tools, shortcuts, videos, checklists, contests, and things that add fun and function to what you do. Here’s to you and here’s to even more growth in 2023!

Need more explanation or assistance with any items mentioned this month? Contact FSO PRO!

Looking for FSO Gifts? Check out the FSO PRO Shop!
Monthly Calendars
NISP Planners
Training Spreadsheet
FSO Budget Planner
Checklists for pre-screening, new hires, personnel clearances, and more!

Ask us for more information! But FREE with FSO PRO Membership.

FSO PRO thanks all the FSOs out there for everything you do to keep the warfighter safe. Even the smallest task is designed to keep our nation’s information out of the hands of those who would do harm. We, as FSOs, are doing our part to stay vigilant and determined to protect those who protect us, even in our own small way.

That is why we say how awesome you are. And thank you.

Download 2023 Insider Threat Vigilance Campaign