Just because you have a clearance doesn’t
automatically mean you have access to classified
information. Having a clearance means you may be
granted access if your duties require access to the
information. This is called the need to know.
Security clearances and access to classified
information are based on a need to know. Only Sailors
who have a real need to know are cleared for access to
the appropriate classified material. The command that
has the classified material determines who has the need
to know.
If you’re cleared to work with classified material,
censor what you say by keeping what you know to
yourself. The following guidelines will help you
safeguard classified material:
Never reveal (talk about) classified information
just to show your shipmates how smart you are or
to act important. If they don’t need to know the
information to carry out their duties, don’t tell
them.
Don’t talk about classified information to
unauthorized persons, including family, friends,
shipmates, and especially strangers. Classified
information can be unintentionally revealed to
unauthorized persons in many ways.
Interest in your own job is natural and desirable,
but it must not lead you to reveal classified
information to unauthorized persons. Never add
to a news story that’s incomplete, no matter how
much you may know. If you do, you may make
public what the Navy has tried to keep secret.
The SECNAV has designated the Department of the
Navy Central Adjudication Facility (DON CAF) as the
single clearance granting authority for the Department
of the Navy. The DON CAF issues final security
clearances for civilian and military personnel at the
request of DON commands and activities once it has
determined that granting the clearance is clearly
consistent with the interests of national security. Once
issued, a security clearance remains valid provided the
Sailor continues compliance with personnel security
standards and has no subsequent break in service
exceeding 24 months.
SECURITY AREAS
Classified information is always protected at the
level of control appropriate with its assigned security
classification level. This policy encompasses all
classified information, regardless of media.
Personnel who work with classified information,
work with it only in a secure facility. They use an
accredited automated information system (AIS) under
conditions that prevent unauthorized persons from
gaining access to the material. If you have classified
material in your possession, you are responsible for
protecting that information. Lock classified material in
an appropriate security container or facility when
you’re not using it or when it’s not under your direct
control.
If you work with classified material, you must
follow procedures so unauthorized persons do not gain
access to the classified information. In a facility that
contains classified material, access is restricted and
movement is controlled so personnel without a need to
know do not have access to classified material. All
personnel must comply with the need-to-know
policy.
If you are using classified material, you can’t
remove it from the designated office or working area
except to perform official duties and under conditions
providing the protection required by SECNAVINST
5510.36.
Don’t discuss classified material with any person
that doesn’t have a need to know.
STORING CLASSIFIED MATERIAL
The General Service Agency (GSA) sets and
publishes minimum standards, specifications, and
supply schedules for containers, vault doors, modular
vaults, alarm systems, and associated security devices
suitable for the storage and destruction of classified
information.
When classified information isn’t under the
personal control or observation of a cleared person, it’s
guarded or stored in a locked GSA-approved security
container or vault, modular vault, or secure room. For
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