CHAPTER 11
SECURITY
As a Signalman, you will hear a great deal about
the security of classified material. You will have
access to and will use classified information every day.
For that reason, all activities brief newly arrived
Signalmen in security and require them to sign a
statement attesting that they have received the briefing
and understand the contents. Furthermore, as part of
each command's security program, you will be
required to read and indicate your understanding of
several of the most important national laws and
regulations related to security.
Maintaining the security of classified material,
however, requires more than a briefing, a regulation,
or a law. Security will only be as effective as you make
it. There is no one to whom you can transfer your
responsibility for protecting this information.
Security, along with operating signaling equipment, is
a basic part of your duties. You must be security
conscious to the point that you automatically exercise
proper discretion in the discharge of your duties, and
do not think of security as something separate and
apart from other matters. In this way, security of
classified information becomes a natural element of
every task, and not an additionally imposed burden.
PURPOSE OF SECURITY PROGRAM
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Explain the
purpose of the security program. Define
command management, security education,
and security principles.
The security program deals basically with the
safeguarding of information that should not be
allowed to fall into the hands of foreign governments,
foreign nationals, or other unauthorized persons. The
danger being that such information might be used to
the detriment of the United States.
Information may be compromised through
careless talk, improper handling of classified material,
and in various other ways. Some of the ways in which
military personnel may accidentally give away vital
information are discussed in Basic Military
Requirements, NAVEDTRA 12043.
COMMAND MANAGEMENT
Commanding officers are responsible for effective
management of the Information and Personnel
Security Program within their command. Command
security management discussion includes the
following action areas:
Designating a security manager
Designating a Top Secret control officer (TSCO)
if Top Secret material is handled by the
command
Designating an ADP security officer if the
command processes data or prepares documents
in an automated system
Designating a security officer
Preparing written command security procedures
and an emergency destruction plan for the
protection of classified material
Reviewing and inspecting the effectiveness of
the program in subordinate commands
Command Security Manager
Every command in the Navy and Marine Corps
eligible to receive classified information is required to
designate a security manager in writing. The security
manager will be afforded direct access to the
commanding officer to ensure effective management
of the command’s security program.
The security manager may be employed full-time,
part-time, or as a collateral duty, but he/she must be
an officer or a civilian employee GS- 11 or above. The
security manager must be a U.S. citizen and have a
favorably completed background investigation (BI).
The security manager is the main advisor on
information and personnel security in the command
and is responsible to the commanding officer for the
management of the program.
The security manager, for effective management
of the program, should do the following:
Develop written command information and
personnel security procedures, including an emergency
destruction plan.
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