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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Security FAQs

Question

Answer

FAQ Category : Declassification ‎(2)

When is the deadline for automatic declassification review?

On 31 December 2006 and each 31st of December thereafter as the records come into the 25-year window.

Where are the records located that are being reviewed?

At all Records Centers and Regional Archives across the United States, at the National Archives and Records Administration II, and the Naval Historical Center.

FAQ Category : Information Security ‎(4)

What precautions should I take before posting government information on the internet?

Before you post any type of government information, including names of government personnel with their job affiliations, on a publicly accessible web site, you must have the information reviewed by your command for public release. This review also includes a pre-publication security review to prevent classified or "for official use only" information from being inadvertently released to the public.

Do I have to submit all documents originating in the DC area for pre-publication review by N09N2 and DoD?

SECNAVINST 5510.36, exhibit 8B, lists the types of information that must be forwarded to CNO(N09N2) for review by the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) prior to publication. This includes information which "Originates or is proposed for public release in the Washington DC area" (paragraph 1.a). The long-standing interpretation of this requirement is that it is directed to and applies to Senior Level personnel (i.e., Flag Officers and SES) dealing with political policy and military "hot-button" issues that have the potential to be of news-worthy interest, such as the TV evening news or the newspaper. Follow the guidelines of Exhibit 8B and coordinate with your public affairs office to complete pre-publication security reviews at your command to the maximum extent possible.

If I am processing an unclassified e-mail on a classified system, do I have to mark it "UNCLASSIFIED"?

Yes. All documents, to include attachments, drafted and transmitted on a classified network need to be appropriately marked per SECNAV M-5510.36, Chapter 6.

I received an e-mail on a classified system that is not marked. How do I handle the document and am I required to mark the document at the same level of the classified network?

Request the sender to properly mark the document. Safeguard it at the highest classification level of the system until you receive the proper marking of the document from the sender. The basic principle for this policy is addressed in SECNAV M-5510.36, Chapters 4, 6, and 7.

FAQ Category : Personnel Security ‎(7)

When considering Interim Access, what constitutes derogatory information?

Commanding Officers are authorized to grant interim access pending a favorable eligibility determination from the DoN CAF when: a favorable review of the SF-86 and local records have been completed, and the SF-86 has been submitted to OPM. Derogatory information is any information about a person's conduct or behavior, such that entrusting them with classified information or assigning them to sensitive duties may not clearly be consistent with the interests of national security. Appendix G of the SECNAVINST 5510.30B identifies the 13 security concerns that are to be considered when reviewing the SF-86.

Does possession of a foreign passport or dual citizenship have any impact on an individual's ability to obtain and maintain a clearance, or employability as a federal civil servant or contractor with access to sensitive information?

Individuals who hold foreign passports will be required to relinquish foreign passports prior to DoN CAF adjudication of clearance eligibility OR eligibility to occupy a sensitive position. Individuals who are dual citizens will be expected to provide a statement regarding their willingness to renounce foreign citizenship.

Is it possible through any of the DoD organizations to get a copy of my previous personnel security investigation request (the SF-86) and/or copies of the adjudication determination?

Copies of submitted SF-86's are not maintained electronically in the format in which they were submitted. Copies of completed investigations and adjudicative determinations can be obtained by writing to both the OPM (the investigating agency) and to the DONCAF. Individuals should submit a request, stating "request a copy of records pertaining to my clearance which may be on file at your agency, in accordance with "The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)" as amended in 2002 and/or the "Privacy Act of 1974". Requests must include full name, full social security number, date and place of birth, original signature and current home address (a Post Office Box is not acceptable as records may be sent by certified mail and require your signature). Fees to reproduce and mail records may or may not apply.

OPM:
FOI/P, OPM-FIPC
P.O. Box 618
1137 Branchton Road
Boyers, PA 16018-0618

Department of the Navy Central Adjudication Facility
716 Sicard Street S.E., Suite 2000
Washington Navy Yard DC 20388-5387

What do the terms: "Pending Action", "Requires Review", "No Determination Made" and "Loss of Jurisdiction" mean and can I grant temporary (interim) access?

"Pending", "Requires Review" or "No Determination Made": These terms indicate the existence of derogatory/adverse information, or inadequate information present to make a favorable adjudication clearance determination. "Loss of Jurisdiction": Indicates that an individual has separated or changed employment status prior to the adjudication of his/her security investigation. The existence of derogatory/adverse information, or inadequate information present to make a favorable adjudication clearance determination existed preventing a favorable eligibility determination. Current DON policy prohibits commands from granting temporary access or assignment of sensitive duties. The interim link in JPAS will/should not appear. Contact the DON CAF using RRU to ask for "eligibility determination." The DONCAF will reply to the RRU and advise if additional information is required.

Are the SF-87 and the FD-258 fingerprint cards both active forms, and when do I use each form?

SF-87 fingerprint cards are still required for civilians and the FD-258 fingerprint cards are still required for military and contractor personnel. Each contains a unique ORI number on the cards that provides billing and retention instruction to the FBI.

Are Periodic Reinvestigations required?

Periodic re-investigations update a previous investigation and are authorized only for specific duties and access. There are two scopes for reinvestigations, the SSBI Periodic Reinvestigation (SSBI-PR) completed to update requirements for Top Secret/SCI and other sensitive duties, and the NACLC reinvestigation completed to update requirements for Secret or Confidential ELIGIBILITY. NACLCs are conducted at 10-year and 15-year intervals. SSBI-PRs are conducted based on an investigation that is 5 years old or more to support Top Secret/SCI and support personnel security determinations on personnel with continued assignment to NATO billets requiring Top Secret (COSMIC) access, Nuclear Weapons Personnel Reliability Program (PRP) critical positions, critical-sensitive and special-sensitive positions, IT-DAA and IT-I positions, Presidential Support Activities, access to SIOP-ESI and for Limited Access Authorizations for non-U.S. citizen employees. NACLCs are also conducted at five year intervals for personnel with Secret security clearance in Special Access Programs (SAPs) and those performing Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) or Personnel Reliability Program (PRP) controlled duties. A technical fingerprint search of FBI files is conducted, except during an SSBI-PR. The Periodic Reinvestigation applies to military, civilian, contractor and foreign national personnel. A Periodic Reinvestigation is required to maintain continued eligibility and access to classified information based on the investigation closed date at the 5, 10 or 15 year intervals, not the eligibility date.

Where can a service member (current or prior) go to locate their selective service number?

Since the selective service number is a necessary data category in completion of the personnel security questionnaire, should the member not have a record of this data, it can be obtained by visiting: http://www.sss.gov.