have any questions for use or storage answered prior to
acceptance of the material.
INVENTORY
LH custodians must main a local custody file
containing effective signed local custody documents.
These will list all material in their possession. A watch
station must maintain a watch-to-watch inventory that
lists all COMSEC material held. This material is to be
listed by short title, edition, accounting numbers, and
quantity.
CONTROL
Watch-to-watch inventory is used to maintain
control of effective material and material to be used in
the future. Effective and supersession dates for all
COMSEC material (less equipment and related
components and devices) that the watch holds must
have clearly marked dates in accordance with Article
760 of CMS 1.
DESTROY
Destruction of superseded material must be
accurately documented and conducted within the
required time frame. Article 790 of CMS 1 contains
destruction procedures, and chapter 5 delineates
personnel, methods, and time periods for destroying
COMSEC material.
VERIFY DESTRUCTION
Refer to CMS 1 and local instructions for
procedures to verify destruction of all COMSEC
materials.
REQUIRED CMS REPORTS
SUBMITTED TO CMS
CUSTODIAN
CMS reports to the CMS Custodian normally
include destruction reports and SF-153’s that contain
material that is to be returned to the CMS Custodian.
Further information on reports that the CMS
Custodian may require are found in detail in CMS 1 and
its various annexes.
SUMMARY
Security precautions will protect the integrity of the
systems that are in place as long as you, as the radioman,
understand and carry out the correct methods for
handling, inventorying and destruction of required
classified or COMSEC material. Security
considerations presented in this chapter will not
guarantee protection, nor do that try to cover all
familiarize yourself with all requirements at the
command or area that you are working in.
required areas. You will have to research and
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