A continuous chain of receipts for Top Secret
material must be maintained. Moreover, a Record of
Disclosure, OPNAV form 5511/13, for Top Secret
material is attached to each document that circulates
within a command or activity. Each person having
knowledge of the contents of a Top Secret document
must sign the attached Record of Disclosure. Top
Secret messages, documents, and publications must be
stored in a security container separate from those
classified Secret and below.
HANDLING SECRET MATERIAL
Every command is required to establish
administrative procedures for recording all Secret
material originated and received. These administrative
procedures, as a minimum, must include a system of
accountability for Secret matter distributed or routed
within the command, such as a communications log.
Accounting of Secret material may or may not be
centralized.
Unlike Top Secret material, Secret material does
not require signed receipts distributed or routed within
the command. However, it is extremely important that
you ensure that the person who is receiving Secret
messages or material is properly cleared, and his or her
name appears on an access list released by the
commanding officer.
HANDLING CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL
Procedures for handling Confidential material are
less stringent than those for Secret. There is no
requirement to maintain records of receipt, distribution,
or disposition of Confidential material. However,
Confidential material must still be protected from
unauthorized disclosure by access control and
compliance with regulations on marking, storage,
transmission, and destruction.
HANDLING CLASSIFIED AIS MATERIAL
Classified AIS storage media and output must be
controlled and safeguarded in accordance with its
security classification. Specific procedures on
security requirements for handling and storing AIS
material are found in the Department of the Navy
Automatic Data Processing Security Program,
OPNAVINST 5239.1.
CLEARING MEDIA AND
HARDWARE
Declassifying AIS media is a procedure to erase
totally all classified information stored in the media.
The clearing of AIS media is used to erase classified
information that lacks the totality and finality of
declassifying. There are distinct and specific
techniques to clear media and hardware; a sampling
follows:
Magnetic tapes: Overwrite one item with any
one character or perform degaussing.
Magnetic media used to store analog, video, or
other nondigital information: Overwrite using
analog signals instead of digital.
Internal memory, buffers, registers, or similar
storage areas: Use hardware clear switch, power
on reset cycle or a program designed to overwrite
the storage area.
Cathode-ray tubes (CRTs): Ensure that there is
no burned-in classified information by
inspecting the screen surface.
DESTRUCTION OF CLASSIFIED
MATERIAL
Classified material that is no longer required should
not be allowed to accumulate. Destruction of
superseded and obsolete classified materials that have
served their purpose is termed “routine destruction.”
ROUTINE DESTRUCTION
There are specific directives that authorize the
routine destruction of publications, message files, and
cryptomaterials. As a Radioman, you should carefully
study these directives so that you may properly comply
with them. Additionally, the letter of promulgation of
publications often sets forth disposition instructions
about destruction requirements for that publication.
Other materials, such as classified rough drafts,
worksheets, and similar items, are periodically
destroyed to prevent their accumulation.
Top Secret, Secret, and Confidential material may
be destroyed by burning, pulping, pulverizing, or
shredding. Destruction must be complete and
reconstruction of material impossible. The most
efficient method of destroying combustible material is
by burning.
DESTRUCTION PROCEDURES AND
REPORTS
Top Secret material will be destroyed by two
witnessing officials. Persons performing any
destruction must have a clearance level equal to or
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