assigned duties. Personnel authorized access to
classified information must be trustworthy, loyal, and
of good character.
In the following situations, a security clearance is
not granted:
To persons in nonsensitive civilian positions
To persons whose regular duties do not require
authorized access to classified information
For ease of movement within a restricted,
controlled, or industrial area of persons whose duties do
not require access to classified information
To persons who may only have inadvertent
access to sensitive information or areas, such as guards,
emergency service personnel, police, and so forth
To persons whose access to classified
information can be prevented by a clear escort
To maintenance or cleaning personnel who may
only have inadvertent access to classified information
unless such access cannot be reasonably prevented
To persons who perform maintenance on office
equipment, computers, typewriters, and similar
equipment who can be denied classified access by
physical security measures
Reserve personnel in an “active status” are eligible
for a security clearance as required. Members of
Congress do not require security clearances. They may
be granted access to DOD classified information that
relates to matters under the jurisdiction of the
respective committees.
INTERIM AND FINAL CLEARANCES
Interim clearance may be granted only after the
required investigative forms for final clearance have
been sent to DIS or OPM and a check of available
personnel, medical, legal, security, base police, and
other command records do not contain information
that clearly indicates that the individual is not a
suitable candidate for a position of trust. Interim
clearances are effective up to 6 months and may be
extended another 6 months if a tracer has confirmed
that the investigation is still pending.
A final clearance is granted upon completion of
all investigative requirements as set forth in
Department of the Navy Information and Personnel
Security Program Regulation, OPNAVINST 5510.1.
ACCESS
No one has a right to have access to classified
information solely because of rank, position, or
security clearance. The final responsibility for
determining whether a person’s official duties require
access to any element or item of classified information
and whether he/she has been issued the appropriate
security clearance or authorization by proper authority
rests with the individual who has the authorized
possession, knowledge, or control of the information
involved—not with the prospective recipient.
The ultimate authority for granting access to
classified information rests with the commanding
officer, who is responsible for the security of the
information or material in his/her command. A
commanding officer may grant access to classified
information to an individual who has an official need
to know, a valid security clearance or access
authorization, and about whom there is no locally
available disqualifying information.
More in-depth information concerning access to
classified information and material is covered in
chapter 24 of OPNAVINST 5510.1.
STORAGE OF CLASSIFIED MATERIAL
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Explain the
procedure for the storage of classified material.
Define security container and explain
requirements when keys and combinations to
containers are used.
Commanding officers are responsible for
safeguarding all classified information within their
commands and for ensuring that classified material
not in actual use by appropriately cleared personnel or
under their direct personal observation is properly
stored.
Any weakness in equipment being used to
safeguard classified material in storage is reported to
the Chief of Naval Operations. Each report must fully
describe the weakness or deficiency and how it was
discovered. Reporting is especially important when
GSA-approved containers are involved.
Valuables, such as money, jewels, and so forth,
will not be stored in the same containers used to
safeguard classified material. These items increase the
risk that the container will be opened or stolen, with
the resulting compromise of the information within.
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