SUMMARY
Security of classified material is serious business.
Potential enemies are always looking for a chance to
gain access to our most guarded secrets. Just one day of
failing to safeguard classified material could result in
the compromise of extremely sensitive material. The
security of classified material not only rests with the
personnel that have access to it on a daily basis, but also
includes every member of a command. We all have a
duty to ensure that only the people requiring access to
classified material are allowed to see or use it. The same
is true of how we discuss our daily routine. Even if you
don’t have access to classified material on a daily basis,
you could possibly have knowledge of certain exercises
or deployment times that world be of benefit to potential
enemies. Think carefully before you start talking about
upcoming events. Every person in the room is not
cleared to have this type of information. Putting pieces
of information together to determine what is happening
is easy for foreign agents. The same is true when talking
on the telephone. Very few phones aboard ship and
almost none in the civilian community are secure.
Electronic eavesdropping is another way foreign agents
collect intelligence data. Be careful of what you say;
someone other than the person you called could be
listening.
Terrorist activity, particularly when you are visiting
a foreign country, should always be of concern. While
you should not let it interfere with your enjoyment of
visiting a foreign country, you must always be alert to
what is going on around you. By taking an extra few
minutes to survey your surroundings, you could identify
a potentially hazardous situation.
The international agreements discussed were
designed to protect members of the armed forces. The
Status of Forces Agreement protects you when you are
stationed in or visiting foreign countries. The Geneva
Convention affords you protection if you become a
POW. The Law of Armed Conflict protects you in the
event of a war. The articles and rules of these
agreements will only protect you if you conduct
yourself according to U.S. and international law. You
have a duty to conduct yourself in a manner that will not
bring discredit upon your country, your service, or
yourself.
REVIEW 1 ANSWERS
A1. The three levels of security are—
a. Top Secret
b. Secret
c. Confidential
A2. FOUO means For Official Use Only.
A3. Commanding officers are authorized to initiate
a request for a security clearance and
background investigation.
A4. A background investigation is required for Top
Secret and Secret clearances.
A5. A letter in parentheses, such as (S), after a
publication title tells you the classification of
that publication.
A6. Classified material, such as videotapes,
cassettes, and computer disks, are marked by
tags, stickers, decals, and so on.
A7. Publications carry the security marking of the
highest level of material contained in the
publication; therefore, this publication is
marked Top Secret.
A8. Security areas are used to keep classified
material.
A9. ADP security is used to safeguard data
processing equipment (computers) including
hardware, software, administrative and
operating procedures, communications, and
personnel and spaces.
A10. If you find an unattended room with an open and
unlocked security container, you should contact
the senior duty officer to report a security
violation. Then, stand guard over the space
until the duty officer arrives.
A11. The least secure communications means is the
telephone. Never use telephones to discuss
classified material because they can be
physically and electronically wiretapped.
22-21
Student Notes:
